MVC vs MVVM: Which iOS App Architecture Should You Pick?

Building mobile apps in the current day and age is not merely a fancy option for any business looking to stay successful in today’s cut-throat market. It is a must-have for any business that is seeking to achieve its potential and sustain growth. The focus, then, is squarely put on the operating system one chooses for building said apps for their business. An increasing number of companies are opting for iOS app development. It is because iPhones command a sizable share of the global OS market, which renders iOS app development a wise choice. One of the next questions, then, on developing an iOS app is the architecture to base it on. You see, the mobile app’s architecture is central to the former’s success. Hence, the focus on which architecture one chooses to build their iOS app.

Think of the architecture as the foundation of the app, i.e., it is what the app will be built on top off. Given the role it plays, one must choose the architecture type for their app with absolute clarity. Now, how does one go about doing that? Well, there are plenty of considerations to be kept in mind. First up is the complexity of the app as well as its requirements. This factor may seem necessary at the outset. However, it is of consequential importance if you wish to avoid unnecessarily complicating the process. The next consideration is the team that will build the app, but this is secondary to the other reviews.

The process will then lead you to the following question: Should you choose Model view controller architecture or is it a better idea to stick to the Model view view model architecture? Well, here is a quick guide to help you find the answer to that question.

Model view controller architecture: As the name suggests, the MVC architecture comprises three components: The Model, the View, and the Controller. In this one, the model stockpiles the app’s data, including networking code, model objects, parses, and persistence objects. Up next is the view, i.e., what the app’s user gets to see. This includes typically reusable UI elements. Finally, we have the controller, which is a link between the model and the view. The app’s logic is stored within the controller.

    • It is key to organizing the flow of data as well as the interaction within the app

    • It offers a neat and straightforward structure, which is conducive for building simple iOS mobile apps

    • However, a growing codebase poses its challenges when using the MVC architecture because it increases complexity levels.

Some factors to keep in mind before choosing to use the model view view model architecture:

    • The MVVM architecture is great for effectively solving issues posed by the MVC architecture’s limitations and flaws. Since it is better equipped at distinguishing data and logic, MVVM is a terrific choice if you are looking to use the thin controller, fat model tenet.

    • Because the ViewModels call distinctive methods across the Model’s different parts and that too in a randomized manner, it can prove to be quite challenging to determine which logic is the ViewModel’s and which one you are better off moving to a service.

    • You can consider using MVVM when you need to turn models into different representations for a specific view. For instance, a view model can be used to transform a decimal into a currency-formatted thread. It is one of the best ways to trim down large view controllers that otherwise need several model-to-view changes.

    • MVC is the right architectural pattern to grasp iOS development. It imparts structure to the the flow of data & interactions in your app. Highly recommended for building a basic application, this iOS architecture pattern is easy to understand and fast to develop.     

Hopefully, this guide will make it easier for you to pick between the MVC architecture and the MVVM architecture. We recommend hiring an expert for custom iOS application development to make a choice and the project much more comfortable to execute.