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Objective-C
Definition:
Objective-C is a high-level programming language primarily used for software development on Apple's macOS and iOS operating systems. It is an object-oriented language that adds Smalltalk-style messaging to the C programming language, allowing developers to create dynamic and flexible applications.
Objective-C: A Brief Overview
Objective-C is a high-level programming language primarily used for developing software for Apple's platforms, including iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. It was developed in the early 1980s by Tom Love and Brad Cox. Objective-C combines elements of Smalltalk and C programming languages, making it an object-oriented language with a dynamic runtime.
Key Features of Objective-C:
1. Object-Oriented: Objective-C is an object-oriented language where everything is treated as an object. It supports concepts like classes, objects, methods, and inheritance.
2. Dynamic Typing: Unlike statically typed languages, Objective-C is dynamically typed, which means variable types are determined at runtime.
3. Message Passing: In Objective-C, method calls are implemented through message passing, where an object sends a message to another object to invoke a method.
4. Extension of C: Objective-C is a strict superset of the C language, meaning any C program is also a valid Objective-C program.
Usage of Objective-C:
Objective-C was the primary language used for developing iOS applications until the introduction of Swift in 2014. However, many legacy iOS applications and libraries are still written in Objective-C. It remains a valuable skill for developers working on Apple's platforms.
Overall, Objective-C played a crucial role in the development of Apple's ecosystem and continues to be relevant in certain software development projects.
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