The top new APIs for iOS app development in 2023

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APIs for iOS app development

Are you an iOS developer? Do you want to know what’s new for you in iOS? Read on to explore the latest and updated iOS APIs in 2023.

The realm of iOS app development has taken a leap forward, bringing a bouquet of new and updated APIs that redefine how you create and innovate iOS apps. Many new APIs (like Async Prediction API, ShazaKit API, MapKit, and StoreKit) were announced during Apple’s WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) 2023.

Let’s have a look at the new and updated iOS APIs that will reshape the way of building iOS apps in 2023. So, if you are a dedicated app developer or a beginner in iOS app development, get ready to level up your app development game. 

Latest APIs for iOS app development in 2023

From Sync prediction API for simplifying the creation of machine learning experiences to ARKit 6 for immersive augmented reality, these APIs empower developers to create innovative, engaging, and user-centric experiences.

The new Async Prediction API

This iOS API lets developers make asynchronous (refers to operations that can be executed independently) predictions using machine learning models. A prediction API usually provides an interface for sending data to a machine-learning model and receiving predictions based on that data. For example, you can use an Async prediction API to send input data to a machine learning model, and in return, receive the model’s predictions and classifications.

How is the new Async Prediction API useful?

The new Async prediction API simplifies the creation of ML-powered experiences and aids in maximizing hardware utilization. It might involve asynchronous processing, prediction API, machine learning models, and others.

It performs best in terms of responding to cancellations, especially when multiple predictions are requested concurrently. If you are operating within an asynchronous context or dealing with large input sets, it is where using Async API will be beneficial.

An Async prediction API can help resolve challenges associated with the following:

  • Long processing time
  • Resource management
  • Enhancing user experience
  • Enabling real-time interactions
  • Batch-processing
  • Network latency
  • Facilitating resource sharing

ShazamKit API

The word “Shazam” refers to a term used to express surprise, amazement, and sudden understanding. It is similar to saying “Wow” or “Oh my!”.

Apple introduced ShazamKit, a framework that you can use to add audio recognition experiences to various applications. However, before using the ShazamKit API, let’s understand how Shazam works. 

  • The app begins with the microphone to record a stream.
  • The Shazam library, now referred to as ShazamKit, generates a distinct signature using the audio buffer recently recorded by the application.
  • ShazamKit then transmits a query request, including the audio signature to Shazam API. The Shazam service compares this signature with reference signatures from the Shazam Catalog, consisting of popular music.
  • Upon discovering a match, the ShazamKit API returns the metadata associated with the identified track to ShazamKit.
  • Shazamkit calls the appropriate delegate passing the metadata.

What’s new in the ShazamKit API?

You can now create more engaging experiences using only a few lines of code. Its latest update makes it easier to recognize audio, even via headphones. This new API lets you surface your user’s music discoveries directly in the app.

Pointer API usability improvements (Swift 5.7)

The pointer API refers to a set of functions, methods, or programming constructs allowing developers to work with pointers in a controlled and safe manner. The Swift 5.7 language and standard library saw improvements such as new shorthand syntax for standard boilerplate code, enhanced data race safety with new annotations and opt-in diagnostics, improved usability of a suite of existing pointer APIs, and brand new language support and APIs for string processing.

Why do we require a pointer API?

Here are some reasons that highlight the need for a pointer API:

  • Memory safety
  • Abstraction
  • Compatibility
  • Performance
  • Interop (interoperability – refers to the ability of different systems, languages, or technologies, to work together) with other languages

Challenges faced before Pointer API improvements

  • Security vulnerabilities
  • Performance issues
  • Difficulty in portability
  • Complex and difficult to learn

The improvements

The latest updates have brought about several enhancements for UnsafePointer and its Mutable and Raw variations.

The usability improvements in pointer API in Swift 5.7 make it easier to use pointers safely and efficiently. These improvements include

  • The introduction of an API to acquire an UnsafeRawPointer instance that has been shifted to a specific alignment from its initial position
  • Enabling the retrieval of a pointer to a stored property within an aggregate type T, based on an UnsafePointer<T>
  • Simplifying the ability to access individual elements of an aggregate structure or array
  • Facilitating the comparison of pointers belonging to two different types

Metal API

Apple’s Metal is a low-level hardware-accelerated 3D graphic and computes shader API. It is intended to improve performance by offering low-level access to the GPU hardware for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and tvOS apps.

The latest version of Metal is Metal 3, launched at WWDC in 2022. At WWDC 2023, Apple revealed a new game porting toolkit, giving access to developers to hardware-accelerated graphics capabilities on MacOS. It allows Windows games to run on MacOS.

By offering developers unparalleled performance, efficiency, and a suite of powerful tools, Apple’s new Metal API revolutionizes game development on Mac. Here are some improvements in Metal API –

  • Metal Shading Language (MSL) 2.0 – The new version of MSL introduces a number of new features like support for ray tracing, variable-rate shading, and new math functions.
  • Metal performance shaders – This new framework offers a high-level API for performing common computing tasks like image processing and machine learning.
  • Metal tools – These are a new set of tools providing developers with a way to profile and debug their Metal code.

Overall, the latest improvements in Metal API make it more powerful and versatile and can be used to create high-performance graphics and compute applications.

MapKit

It is a powerful API available on iOS devices. This makes displaying maps and marking locations easier. It lets iOS and macOS developers embed maps, annotations, and overlays.

As per the official documentation of MapKit on developer.apple.com, here are some improvements in the MapKit API –

  • The ability to adopt the all-new map and fully leverage it using the map configuration API
  • Various improvements have been made to overlay APIs to allow for seamless content integration with the map
  • Support for LookAround API, providing an immense street-level map view
  • Improvements to the Routing API make it easier to calculate routes between locations
  • New features for working with maps in SwiftUI, including creating maps with custom styles and adding annotations and overlays to maps

Overall, these make it easier to create powerful, versatile, and visually appealing maps. Also, integrating maps with the app’s UI becomes seamless with it.

Simplified integration of in-app purchases with StoreKit 2 API

StoreKit gives a simple and secure way to purchase digital goods and services on Apple platforms. StoreKit 2 is a new version of StoreKit API that was introduced during WWDC 2022. It allows iOS and macOS developers to create and manage in-app purchases in their applications. It was first introduced in iOS 11 and macOS High Sierra. 

StoreKit 2 uses modern Swift-based APIs making it easier to deliver the best in-app purchase experiences. 

What has improved in StoreKit 2 API?

The new improvements in StoreKit 2 API include simplified integration of in-app purchases into your applications. Apple announced a number of new features for StoreKit 2 at WWDC22, these are –

  • Enhanced support for subscriptions
  • New APIs for testing in-app purchases
  • Improved security
  • SwiftUI support

Now as per WWDC 2023, you can also use the StoreKit 2 API for the following features and services –

  • App transaction
  • Ad network distribution
  • Providing recommendations
  • Request App Store reviews and ratings from customers
  • Display app store messages

Have a look at this documentation to gain a deep insight into the above-mentioned updated features of StoreKit 2 API.

ARKit 6

ARKit 6 is the latest version of Apple’s augmented reality development framework. It was announced at WWDC 2023 and includes a number of new features and improvements.

What’s new in ARKit 6?

This latest version introduces many new features like –

    • 4k video– It lets you capture stunning high-resolution videos of AR experiences. This is best for professional video editing, film production, social media applications, and more.
    • Depth API– The Depth API was updated in ARKit 6 to support the LiDAR Scanner on the new iPad Pro. This makes it possible to create more realistic AR experiences on the iPad Pro, like virtual objects that occlude real-world objects.
    • Image and video capture improvements– ARKit 6 allows capturing a high-resolution background image. It also introduces support for HDR video and adds EXIF tags, like exposure and white balance, to every ARKit frame.
  • Motion capture– In ARKit 6 there are various improvements to motion capture. It can now be used to track the motion of a person in real time. You can now also use it for applications like fitness tracking and gesture recognition.
  • Simultaneous front and back camera– This update can be useful for a variety of applications like tracking the user’s face and body, combining virtual and real-world objects, and creating more realistic AR experiences.
  • Scene geometry– It has been updated to create more detailed and accurate 3D meshes of the surrounding environment. It unlocks object occlusion and real-world physics for virtual objects and also gives you more information to power your AR workflows.

In addition to the above improvements, ARKit 6 also brings location anchors to new cities like Montreal, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo.

Takeaway

All of the new updates announced at WWDC 2023 offer a wide range of possibilities for iOS developers. The new and improved APIs discussed in the blog will be useful in creating more immersive, engaging, and interactive applications. To take advantage of such latest updates, you will require professional expertise. This is where hiring app developers appear to be a profitable solution. So onboard them to build robust and scalable applications for you.

Author Bio

Nathan Smith is an experienced app and web developer, currently working with TechnoScore- a leading software development company. As a technology enthusiast, he is passionate about sharing his web and application development knowledge through his articles. Nathan keeps himself up-to-date with all the latest trends, innovations, and disruptions happening in and around the IT industry. He is also keen on sharing his ideas and understanding of the innovations in the IT domain with individuals and entrepreneurs interested in the trade.

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