Table of Contents

1. 1: How do you manage memory in iOS, and what tools do you use to identify

and resolve memory leaks?

2. 2: How do you ensure that your iOS apps are secure and protect user data?

3. 3: Describe your experience with Core Data or any other persistence

solutions in iOS.

4. 4: Explain your approach to designing a scalable and maintainable

architecture for iOS applications.

5. 5: How do you handle asynchronous tasks and networking in iOS

applications?

6. 6: Explain how you implement Dependency Injection (DI) in iOS apps and its

benefits.

7. 7: How do you manage state in a complex SwiftUI application?

8. 8: How do you approach testing in iOS app development?

9. 9: Discuss strategies you use for optimizing table and collection views in

iOS.

10. 10: Discuss the use of closures in Swift and how you manage memory

when using closures that capture self.

11. Final Thoughts

1: How do you manage memory in iOS, and what tools do

you use to identify and resolve memory leaks?

Expected Answer: I use Automatic Reference Counting (ARC) to manage

memory in iOS applications, which automatically handles most of the memory

management work. For identifying and resolving memory leaks, I use

Instruments, particularly the Leaks and Allocation tools, to track down and fix

leaks.

Explanation: This question tests the candidate’s understanding of memory

management in iOS and their proficiency with debugging tools provided by

Xcode.
1.1: Can you explain the difference between strong, weak,
and unowned references in Swift?

Expected Answer: Strong references increase the retain count of an object,

keeping it in memory. Weak references do not increase the retain count and

are set to nil when the referenced object is deallocated, useful for avoiding

retain cycles. Unowned references are similar to weak references but are

expected to always have a value; hence, they are not set to nil.

Explanation: Understanding these concepts is crucial for effective memory

management and avoiding memory leaks in iOS applications.

1.2: Describe a scenario where you had to optimize the

performance of an iOS app. What strategies did you
employ?

Expected Answer: I optimized an app’s performance by analyzing its behavior

with the Time Profiler in Instruments, identifying bottlenecks in the code. I

reduced the complexity of some data processing algorithms and optimized UI

updates to run smoothly on the main thread, significantly improving the app’s

responsiveness.

Explanation: This question assesses the candidate’s ability to diagnose and

solve performance issues, an essential skill for ensuring a smooth user

experience.

2: How do you ensure that your iOS apps are secure and
protect user data?

Expected Answer: I follow best practices for iOS app security, such as using

HTTPS for network communications, storing sensitive data securely using

Keychain, implementing proper authentication and authorization, and

regularly updating the app to address security vulnerabilities.

Explanation: This explores the candidate’s knowledge of and approach to app

security, critical for developing trustworthy applications.

2.1: Have you implemented biometric authentication in any
iOS app? What challenges did you face, and how did you
overcome them?

Expected Answer: Yes, I’ve implemented biometric authentication using

Touch ID and Face ID with the Local Authentication framework. A challenge

was handling the different error states, such as when biometrics are not

enrolled or available. I overcame this by providing clear feedback to the user

and fallback authentication mechanisms.

Explanation: This assesses experience with advanced security features and

problem-solving skills in handling edge cases and user experience

considerations.

2.2: Discuss how you handle sensitive data within an iOS

application. What measures do you take to ensure data
privacy?

Expected Answer: Beyond using Keychain for storing sensitive data, I ensure

data privacy by encrypting data in transit and at rest, following GDPR

guidelines for data handling, and implementing access controls to limit data

exposure to unauthorized users or systems.

Explanation: This question evaluates the candidate’s awareness of data

privacy principles and their implementation in mobile applications.

3: Describe your experience with Core Data or any other

persistence solutions in iOS.

Expected Answer: I have extensive experience with Core Data for local data

storage, managing object graphs, and handling data persistence across app

sessions. I’ve also used Realm and SQLite when projects required lightweight

databases or specific performance characteristics.

Explanation: This probes into the candidate’s familiarity with data

persistence options in iOS and their ability to choose and implement the
most suitable one for project requirements.

3.1: How do you optimize Core Data for performance in a

large dataset scenario?

Expected Answer: To optimize Core Data performance, I use batching and

fetch limits to manage memory usage, employ background contexts for long-

running operations, and carefully manage object relationships and fetching

strategies to minimize overhead.

Explanation: Efficient data handling is vital for app performance. This

question tests the candidate’s knowledge of advanced Core Data

techniques.

3.2: Have you faced any challenges when synchronizing

local data with a remote server? How did you address
them?

Expected Answer: Yes, synchronizing data between a local database and a

remote server can be challenging, especially with conflicts and offline

changes. I implemented a last-modified timestamp approach to resolve

conflicts and used background tasks to sync data when the app was not

active but had connectivity.

Explanation: This question assesses the candidate’s experience with and

approach to common data synchronization challenges in mobile app

development.

4: Explain your approach to designing a scalable and

maintainable architecture for iOS applications.

Expected Answer: My approach involves using design patterns such as MVC,

MVVM, or VIPER, depending on the project’s complexity and team

preferences. I focus on separating concerns, making the codebase modular,

and writing reusable components. Additionally, I leverage dependency

injection for better testability and flexibility.

Explanation: Architecture plays a crucial role in app development. This

question evaluates the candidate’s strategic thinking in building scalable and

maintainable apps.

4.1: Can you share your experience with implementing Unit

Testing and UI Testing in iOS apps?

Expected Answer: I’ve implemented unit testing using XCTest to test

individual components and logic under various conditions. For UI testing, I

used XCUITest to automate user interaction scenarios. Both practices helped

catch bugs early and ensure feature integrity over updates.

Explanation: Testing is essential for high-quality software development. This

question explores the candidate’s commitment to testing practices.

4.2: Describe a complex UI you’ve developed in an iOS

application and the techniques you used to implement it.

Expected Answer: I developed a custom interactive chart with animations

and gestures. I used Core Graphics for drawing, UIKit Dynamics for animations,

and carefully managed view hierarchy and layout constraints for performance

and responsiveness.

Explanation: This question delves into the candidate’s UI/UX development

skills and their ability to tackle complex user interface challenges.

5: How do you handle asynchronous tasks and networking

in iOS applications?

Expected Answer: I use URLSession for networking tasks, coupled with

asynchronous programming patterns such as callbacks, promises (using

third-party libraries like PromiseKit), or the native Combine framework for

reactive programming. This allows for clean, maintainable code that handles

asynchronous data efficiently and improves app responsiveness.

Explanation: This question gauges the candidate’s understanding of

asynchronous programming and networking in iOS, essential for developing

responsive applications that interact with web services.

5.1: Can you explain how you’ve used Grand Central

Dispatch (GCD) or OperationQueues in a project to
improve app performance or user experience?

Expected Answer: I’ve used GCD to perform database operations and heavy

computations in the background, ensuring the UI remains responsive. For

complex dependency-driven tasks, I’ve utilized OperationQueues to manage

and execute operations in an ordered manner, allowing for precise control

over task execution and concurrency.

Explanation: Knowledge of concurrency and task management in iOS is

crucial for optimizing app performance. This question assesses the

candidate’s experience with these tools.

5.2: Discuss a challenge you faced with data concurrency

or synchronization in an iOS app and how you addressed it.

Expected Answer: A challenge I encountered was ensuring thread-safe

access to shared resources in a multi-threaded environment. I addressed

this by using serial dispatch queues for synchronization and employing

locking mechanisms, such as NSLock, where appropriate, to prevent race

conditions and ensure data integrity.

Explanation: This explores the candidate’s ability to handle concurrency

issues, a common challenge in iOS app development requiring careful

consideration and robust solutions.

6: Explain how you implement Dependency Injection (DI) in

iOS apps and its benefits.

Expected Answer: I use Dependency Injection to decouple the creation of

dependent objects from a class, making my code more modular and testable.
This can be done manually by passing dependencies through initializer

methods or using property injection. For more complex scenarios, I might use

a DI framework like Swinject. The benefits include easier unit testing,

improved code maintainability, and flexibility in swapping out

implementations.

Explanation: This question tests the candidate’s understanding of DI

principles and their ability to apply them to iOS app development, enhancing

modularity and testability.

6.1: Can you discuss a specific instance where you used DI

to solve a problem in an iOS project?

Expected Answer: In a project requiring different data sources for

production and testing environments, I used DI to switch between mock and

real data services seamlessly. By injecting the appropriate data service at

runtime, I could easily test the app with mock data without changing the

production codebase.

Explanation: This seeks practical examples of DI application, highlighting the

candidate’s problem-solving skills and understanding of testing and

environment management.

6.2: Describe the use of closures in Swift and how they

can lead to retain cycles.

Expected Answer: Closures in Swift are used to encapsulate functionality

that can be passed around and executed in your code. However, if a closure

captures “self” strongly within a class instance, it can create a retain cycle,

preventing the instance from being deallocated. To avoid this, you can

capture “self” weakly or unowned within the closure.

Explanation: This question evaluates the candidate’s ability to navigate the

challenges of integrating SwiftUI in existing UIKit applications, a common

scenario as developers transition to the newer framework.

7: How do you manage state in a complex SwiftUI
application?

Expected Answer: In a complex SwiftUI application, managing state

effectively is crucial. I use a combination of @State, @ObservableObject, and

@EnvironmentObject property wrappers to manage local, shared, and

environmental state, respectively. For global app state or more complex

scenarios, I might adopt a state management library or pattern, such as

Redux or MVVM with Combine, to centralize state management and facilitate

communication between components.

Explanation: This question evaluates the candidate’s familiarity with SwiftUI’s

state management tools and their ability to architect an application for

readability and maintainability.

7.1: Can you explain the difference between @State,

@Binding, @ObservedObject, and @EnvironmentObject?

Expected Answer: @State is used for local state management within a view.

@Binding allows a child view to mutate a state owned by a parent view.

@ObservedObject is used with external reference types that conform to the

ObservableObject protocol, enabling the view to update on changes.

@EnvironmentObject is similar to @ObservedObject but for passing an

observable object deep into the view hierarchy without manually passing it

down.

Explanation: Understanding these property wrappers is essential for

effective state management in SwiftUI, allowing the candidate to build

dynamic and responsive UIs.

7.2: How do you approach debugging and fixing a complex

UI issue in a SwiftUI application?

Expected Answer: When debugging a complex UI issue in SwiftUI, I start by

isolating the problematic view or behavior and use Xcode’s Preview and the

SwiftUI inspector to analyze the view hierarchy and state changes. For issues
related to state management or data flow, I employ print statements or

breakpoints to trace the flow of data and identify where the issue arises. If

the problem persists, I refactor the affected views into smaller, more

manageable components to better isolate and understand the issue.

Explanation: This question explores the candidate’s problem-solving

approach to dealing with UI issues in SwiftUI applications, focusing on their

debugging strategies and ability to effectively use tools and resources to

identify and resolve issues.

8: How do you approach testing in iOS app development?

Expected Answer: I incorporate unit tests to ensure individual components

function correctly, using XCTest for Swift and Objective-C code. I also

implement UI tests with XCUITest to automate user interaction scenarios. For

continuous integration and delivery, I use Xcode Server or third-party

services like GitHub Actions or Bitrise to automate testing and build

processes.

Explanation: This evaluates the candidate’s understanding of and

commitment to testing as an integral part of the development process,

essential for maintaining high-quality code.

8.1: Can you discuss a bug that was particularly difficult to

track down and fix? How did you eventually solve it?

Expected Answer: I encountered a race condition in a networking layer that

only occurred under specific timing conditions, making it hard to reproduce.

By adding extensive logging and using the Thread Sanitizer in Xcode, I

identified the issue and resolved it by serializing access to the shared

resource using dispatch queues.

Explanation: This question explores the candidate’s problem-solving skills

and perseverance in debugging challenging issues.

8.2: Describe your experience with performance
optimization in an iOS app. What metrics do you monitor,
and what tools do you use?

Expected Answer: I focus on optimizing memory usage, CPU load, and

response times. I use Instruments, particularly the Time Profiler and

Allocations tools, to identify bottlenecks and Memory Graph Debugger to

track down memory leaks. By analyzing these metrics, I’ve successfully

optimized apps to run smoother on older devices and under heavy load.

Explanation: Performance optimization is key to a seamless user experience.

This question assesses the candidate’s approach to identifying and

addressing performance issues.

9: Discuss strategies you use for optimizing table and

collection views in iOS.

Expected Answer: To optimize performance, I ensure that cell views are

reused efficiently and minimize expensive operations in “cellForRowAt” or

“cellForItemAt” methods. I also optimize images and graphics to reduce

loading times and memory usage, implement prefetching to load data before

it’s needed, and use background threads for heavy processing to keep the UI

thread smooth.

Explanation: This question tests the candidate’s knowledge of UIKit

performance optimization techniques, critical for creating smooth scrolling

experiences.

9.1: How do you handle dynamic cell heights in UITableView

or UICollectionView?

Expected Answer: I use automatic dimensioning for cells with dynamic

content by setting the “tableView.rowHeight” to

“UITableView.automaticDimension” and providing estimated row heights for

better performance. For collection views, I implement the

“UICollectionViewDelegateFlowLayout” methods to calculate and return

dynamic sizes based on the content.

Explanation: This seeks to understand the candidate’s ability to implement

adaptive UIs that can accommodate content of varying sizes, a common

requirement in modern app development.

9.2: Describe how you implement animations in

UITableView or UICollectionView cells to enhance user
experience.

Expected Answer: For cell animations, I use UIView animations to animate

properties like color or size during events like selection. For complex effects,

Core Animation or third-party libraries help achieve the desired outcome. I

always test animations on devices and use Instruments to ensure they’re

performant and smooth.

Explanation: This question checks the candidate’s skills in using animations

to enhance the UI of table and collection views, focusing on their ability to

balance visual flair with application performance.

10: Discuss the use of closures in Swift and how you

manage memory when using closures that capture self.

Expected Answer: Closures are used in Swift for callbacks, higher-order

functions, and capturing and storing references to functions. To manage

memory and avoid retain cycles when a closure captures “self”, we can use

capture lists with “[weak self]” or “[unowned self]”, depending on the context

and lifetime of the objects involved.

Explanation: Understanding closures and memory management in Swift is

crucial for writing efficient and leak-free code. This question assesses the

candidate’s practical knowledge of these concepts.

10.1: Provide an example where using “[unowned self]” in a
closure could lead to issues. How would you mitigate such
a problem?

Expected Answer: Using “[unowned self]” can lead to a crash if “self” is

deallocated before the closure is called, as “unowned” assumes “self” will

always be around. A mitigation strategy involves using “[weak self]” instead,

which doesn’t assume “self”’s presence and safely turns “self” into an

optional, allowing you to unwrap “self” within the closure and use it safely.

Explanation: This question further probes the candidate’s understanding of

memory management in Swift, especially in scenarios that could potentially

lead to runtime crashes due to improper handling of references within

closures.

10.2: How can you test or verify that a memory leak or

retain cycle has been resolved in your iOS application?

Expected Answer: To verify that a memory leak or retain cycle has been

resolved, I use the Memory Graph Debugger and Leaks tool in Instruments. By

monitoring the app’s memory usage and objects graph, I can see if previously

retained objects are now being properly deallocated. Additionally, ensuring

that the number of instances of the involved classes decreases back to

expected levels after the closure’s execution can indicate the issue has

been addressed.

Explanation: This question assesses the candidate’s ability to use Xcode’s

debugging tools to identify and confirm the resolution of memory

management issues, an essential skill for maintaining the health and

performance of iOS applications.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right iOS developer involves looking at their technical skills, how

they solve problems, and their understanding of iOS’s unique features. The
questions we’ve outlined aim to explore these areas in depth, helping you

find someone who can create effective and user-friendly apps.

It’s important to find candidates who are not just technically skilled but also

eager to learn, able to adapt, and work well with others. These traits are

crucial for keeping up with the fast-paced world of iOS development and

contributing positively to your team.

In your search, prioritize candidates who show a good mix of knowledge,

problem-solving abilities, and teamwork skills. This approach will help you pick

a developer who doesn’t just fit your technical needs but also adds value to

your team’s work environment.

Svetlana Shevchuk

Digital Marketing Specialist at YouTeam, a Y Combinator-backed

marketplace for building remote dev teams.

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