SwiftUI and UIKit are both iOS development frameworks, but they differ significantly:
- Paradigm
SwiftUI: Declarative UI design
UIKit: Imperative UI construction
2. Code Complexity
SwiftUI: Shorter, more readable code
UIKit: More verbose, requires more manual configuration
3. Layout Approach
SwiftUI: Uses modern compositional layouts with stacks and modifiers
UIKit: Relies on Auto Layout and frame-based positioning
4. State Management
SwiftUI: Built-in state and binding mechanisms
UIKit: Manual state tracking, requires more boilerplate code
5. Platform Support
SwiftUI: iOS 13+, more limited backward compatibility
UIKit: Supports older iOS versions comprehensively
6. Performance
SwiftUI: Generally more performant for modern apps
UIKit: Mature, optimized framework with deep system integration
While SwiftUI is increasingly preferred for new projects, UIKit remains crucial for complex or legacy app developments.