iOS interview Prep 2023: Mastering Frameworks

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The Guide is for YOU if
  • You are preparing for an iOS interview and want to improve your skills and knowledge and looking to level up your interview game and land your dream job.
  • You want to gain confidence and ease during iOS interviews by learning expert tips and curated strategies.
  • You want access to a comprehensive list of iOS interview QA to practice and prepare.

Welcome to our iOS interview prep for 2023! In this post, we will be diving deep into the world of iOS development and specifically focusing on mastering the various frameworks that are used to build iOS applications. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced developer, this series will provide you with all the information and resources you need to ace your next iOS interview. From the basics of a common framework and Core Animation to advanced topics such as Core Data and SceneKit, we will cover it all. So, let’s get started and master the frameworks that power iOS development together!

What is the purpose of Core Data framework in iOS?

Core Data is an object-relational mapping (ORM) framework that allows developers to interact with their data in an object-oriented way. It provides an abstraction layer between the application and the data store, allowing developers to manage and manipulate data while maintaining data integrity and consistency.

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What is the purpose of UIKit framework in iOS?

UIKit is a framework that provides a set of tools and interfaces for building user interfaces for iOS applications. It includes classes for managing views, layout, and controls, as well as event handling, touch input, and animations.

What is the purpose of Foundation framework in iOS?

Foundation framework is a bundle of basic classes and functionality that are required for developing iOS apps. It includes classes for data types, collections, and utilities, as well as support for networking, file management, and other basic functionality.

What is the purpose of Core Location framework in iOS?

Core Location framework is used for determining the device’s location and heading. This framework provides classes for configuring and scheduling location updates, and for monitoring the device’s location and heading.

What is the purpose of Core Animation framework in iOS?

Core Animation framework provides an animation infrastructure for iOS applications. It provides classes for animating views and layers, as well as support for compositing, color management, and other animation-related functionality.

What is the purpose of Core Graphics framework in iOS?

Core Graphics framework provides low-level, hardware-accelerated drawing and image manipulation. It provides a C-based API for drawing paths, shapes, and images, as well as support for color management and PDF document creation.

What is the purpose of Core Bluetooth framework in iOS?

Core Bluetooth framework provides the resources for communicating with Bluetooth Low Energy devices. It provides a simple API for discovering and connecting to nearby devices, and for sending and receiving data.

What is the purpose of Core ML framework in iOS?

Core ML framework allows developers to integrate machine learning models into their iOS applications. It provides a simple API for loading and running models, as well as support for model optimization and conversion.

What is the purpose of Core Image framework in iOS?

Core Image framework provides a set of image processing filters and support for manipulating image data. It provides a simple API for applying image filters, as well as support for image analysis, face detection, and barcode recognition.

What is the purpose of AVFoundation framework in iOS?

AVFoundation framework provides an object-oriented interface for working with audio and video media in iOS applications. It provides classes for playing and recording audio and video, as well as support for format conversions, text-to-speech, and other media-related functionality.

How does CloudKit differ from Core Data?

CloudKit is a framework that enables developers to easily implement cloud-based services such as iCloud storage, while Core Data is a framework for managing and persisting data locally on the device. CloudKit is primarily used for remote data storage and synchronization, whereas Core Data is used for local data storage and management.

What is the purpose of GameplayKit?

GameplayKit is a framework that provides a set of tools for building game logic, such as random number generation, entity-component systems, and agent-based behaviors. It aims to provide a set of reusable, high-level game development components that can be used to create complex and engaging game experiences.

What is the purpose of ReplayKit?

ReplayKit is a framework that allows developers to record audio and video of an iOS device’s screen, as well as microphone audio. It allows users to record and share gameplay or other app-related content.

What is the purpose of StoreKit?

StoreKit is a framework that provides in-app purchase capabilities, such as purchasing and restoring products, and managing subscriptions. It allows developers to offer paid content or features within their apps, and handle the payment and receipt validation process.

How does SpriteKit differ from SceneKit?

SpriteKit is a 2D game development framework for iOS, macOS, and tvOS, whereas SceneKit is a 3D game development framework for iOS, macOS, and tvOS. spriteKit allows for the creation of 2D games and interactive animations, whereas SceneKit is used for creating 3D games and interactive animations.

Can you provide examples and describe your experience using Core Data?

Core Data is a framework that allows developers to manage and persist data locally on the device. It provides features such as object-graph management, data modeling, and query generation. You can describe how core data works and some common functionalities.

Can you provide examples and describe your experience using Core Graphics?

Core Graphics is a framework that provides low-level, hardware-accelerated drawing and animation capabilities. It provides features such as path-based drawing, color management, and image manipulation. You can describe how core Graphics works and some common functionalities.

What are the various methods for displaying web content to users?

There are several different ways of showing web content to users, including:

  • Using UIWebView or WKWebView to display web pages within an app.
  • Opening web pages in the device’s default browser using the openURL(_:) method.
  • Using a web view controller, such as SFSafariViewController, to display web pages within an app.
  • Creating a custom web view using a combination of UIKit and JavaScript.

What are the key concepts of Core Data?

The key concepts of Core Data include managed objects, managed object contexts, persistent store coordinators, and persistent stores. Managed objects represent the data in an application, managed object contexts provide a way to interact with the data, persistent store coordinators coordinate communication between managed object contexts and persistent stores, and persistent stores are where the data is actually stored.

What is the difference between a managed object and a managed object context?

A managed object is an instance of an object that is managed by the Core Data framework. It represents the data in an application. A managed object context is an object that provides a way to interact with the data represented by managed objects. It is responsible for creating, retrieving, updating, and deleting managed objects.

What is the difference between a CALayer and a CAShapeLayer?

A CALayer is a basic building block for creating animations and visual effects. It provides the ability to display content and handle touch events. A CAShapeLayer is a specialized subclass of CALayer that is used to draw vector-based shapes. It can be used to create complex shapes and paths that can be animated.

What is the purpose of MapKit framework in iOS?

MapKit framework provides a set of tools and interfaces for working with maps in iOS applications. It provides classes for displaying maps, adding annotations, and searching for locations. It also provides support for routing and turn-by-turn navigation.

How can you customize the appearance of a MKAnnotationView?

You can customize the appearance of a MKAnnotationView by setting its properties such as image, centerOffset, and calloutOffset. You can also customize the appearance of the callout by setting the properties of the MKAnnotationView’s detailCalloutAccessoryView.

How can you perform a reverse geocoding with MapKit?

You can perform a reverse geocoding by creating a CLGeocoder object and calling its reverseGeocodeLocation method. This method takes a CLLocation object and a completion handler block that is called with an array of CLPlacemark objects representing the placemarks that are closest to the location.

How can you perform a geocoding with MapKit?

You can perform a geocoding by creating a CLGeocoder object and calling its geocodeAddressString method. This method takes an address string and a completion handler block that is called with an array of CLPlacemark objects representing the placemarks that match the address.

How can you add an overlay to a MKMapView?

You can add an overlay to a MKMapView by creating a MKOverlayRenderer and calling the addOverlay method on the MKMapView. You can also use the MKPolyline and MKPolygon classes to create overlay shapes, and MKTileOverlay to add a tile layer on top of the map.

What class can be used to list files in a directory?

To list files in a directory, you can use the FileManager class. The FileManager class provides methods for working with the file system, such as creating, copying, and listing files and directories.

What is the purpose of UserDefaults and what should it not be used for?

UserDefaults is a way to store small amounts of user data, such as preferences or settings. It is not recommended for storing large amounts of data or data that needs to be persisted for long periods of time.

What is the function of NotificationCenter?

NotificationCenter is a mechanism for broadcasting notifications across different parts of an app. It allows objects to communicate with each other without needing to know about each other’s existence.

What are the steps involved in making a network request?

The steps to make a network request would typically include:

  • Importing the appropriate framework (e.g. URLSession)
  • Creating a URL object with the endpoint you want to call
  • Creating a request object with the URL and any additional headers or parameters
  • Using a URLSession task to execute the request and handle the response
  • Parsing the response data

When would you use CGAffineTransform?

CGAffineTransform is a struct that represents a 2D affine transformation matrix. It can be used to rotate, scale, translate, or skew a drawing or image.

Can you provide examples and describe your experience using Core Image?

Core Image is a framework that provides advanced image processing capabilities, such as filtering, compositing, and color management. You can describe how core image works and some common functionalities.

Can you provide examples and describe your experience using iBeacons?

iBeacons are a technology used for location-based services that allow apps to detect and range iBeacons in the physical world. You can describe how iBeacons works and some common functionalities.

Can you provide examples and describe your experience using StoreKit?

StoreKit is a framework that provides in-app purchase capabilities, such as purchasing and restoring products, and managing subscriptions.

Fellow iOS Developers, Please Keep In Mind

  • It’s important to keep in mind a few key points as you prepare for your interview. Firstly, it’s worth noting that there are over 1000 interview questions available in the interview section for you to review and prepare for. While reading the question, take the time to carefully consider your answer and think about the information that you want to convey. The answer provided here in this blog can be explained in a different way. You should also prepare your examples.
  • It’s also important to remember that these interview questions are not meant to be difficult. The interviewer is not looking to challenge you, but rather to start a conversation that will allow your abilities and interests to come to the forefront. They want to get to know you and your experience better.
  • Finally, it’s crucial to avoid simply answering questions with a “yes” or “no.” Interviewers are looking for more in-depth responses that include basic understanding, reasoning, explanation, and examples. So, make an effort to elaborate on your answers and provide specific, relevant information to support your response. This will demonstrate your thoughtfulness and show the interviewer that you are well-prepared for the interview.

These links are for a series of interview questions and answers related to SwiftUI and iOS development. Part 1 covers UI basics, Part 2 covers advanced UI topics, and Part 3 covers data-related concepts. The Swift iOS interview questions and answers series is also included, with 5 parts covering various topics related to iOS development. Additionally, there is a bonus section for iOS developer interview questions.

SwiftUI Interview Questions and Answers – Part 1 – UI Basics

SwiftUI Interview Questions And Answers – Part 2 – UI Advance

SwiftUI Interview Questions And Answers – Part 3 – Data

If you are interested in 5 parts Swift Series 

Swift iOS interview questions and answers

Swift iOS interview questions and answers – Part 1

Swift iOS interview questions and answers – Part 2

Swift iOS interview questions and answers – Part 3

Swift iOS interview questions and answers – Part 4

Swift iOS interview questions and answers – Part 5

and a bonus

iOS Developer – Bonus Interview Questions



✍️ Written by Ishtiak Ahmed

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Get Ready to Shine: Mastering the iOS Interview




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