Learn Swift

Learn Swift and build interactive apps for Apple platforms

Duration 12h Rating (4.7) Price Free plan available on Codecademy
Created by Kenny Lin
Platform: Codecademy Topic: Programming Languages Skills: iOS Development Swift Xcode

Learn Swift is an introductory, project-driven online course that teaches the Swift programming language and core programming concepts for building apps on iOS, macOS, and related Apple platforms.

The curriculum uses short lessons, quizzes, and guided projects—paired with AI-assisted coding help—to give beginners measurable practice and an optional certificate of completion through the platform’s paid tier.

At a Glance

Learn Swift is a beginner-oriented online course that teaches the Swift programming language and fundamental software development concepts for Apple platforms and general-purpose applications.

The course is authored and taught by Kenny Lin and the Codecademy team, and it progresses from basic syntax to applied projects that reinforce problem-solving and app-building skills.

Level Beginner
Rating 4.7 out of 5
Duration 10+ hours
Languages English
Learners 100K+ learners
Certificate Certificate of completion (paid plan required)
Access Access while subscription is active
Course includes
  • AI-assisted coding help
  • Guided and practice projects
  • Quizzes and auto-graded assessments
  • Certificate of completion
Price Free to start; certificate and premium features require paid subscription

What This Course Teaches

This course frames outcomes as measurable competencies learners can use to demonstrate practical Swift ability.

By completion, learners should be able to write working Swift programs, build interactive projects, implement more advanced language features, and diagnose and fix errors in their code.

Swift Basics
Write correct Swift syntax and core data types to implement functioning programs.
Interactive Projects
Build interactive applications and guided projects that apply language concepts in practice.
Advanced Features
Implement advanced Swift features to extend program capabilities and structure code effectively.
Debugging & Problem Solving
Develop debugging and problem‑solving skills by identifying, diagnosing, and fixing errors in project code.

How the Course Is Structured

Learn Swift is organized into 9 modules (11 lessons total) and is intended to be completed in roughly 10+ hours of learner time.

The course groups short, focused lessons into module-sized topics and concludes with applied projects to reinforce the material.

Curriculum overview

01 Hello World

Write and run your very first Swift program.

02 Variables

Introduction to variables and basic Swift data types.

03 Conditionals & Logic

Learn to structure program flow using conditionals and logical operators.

04 Loops

Use loops to automate repetitive tasks and iterate over collections.

05 Arrays & Sets

Work with arrays and sets to organize and manipulate grouped data.

06 Dictionaries

Store and access key–value pairs using Swift’s dictionary collection type.

07 Functions

Define and call functions to encapsulate logic and reuse code.

08 Strings & Text Processing

Handle string manipulation and text-processing techniques used in example projects.

09 Projects & Wrap-up

Complete guided and independent projects (e.g., Magic 8‑Ball, Caesar Cipher) and review next steps.

Audience & Requirements

Learn Swift is aimed at complete beginners and early-career developers who want a practical, project-driven introduction to Swift for Apple platforms and general-purpose programming.

Who It’s For
  • Aspiring iOS/macOS developers seeking a first language grounded in Apple ecosystems.
  • Learners new to programming who want hands-on practice with core concepts.
  • Hobbyists building small interactive or console projects (e.g., games, utilities).
  • Programmers transitioning from other languages who want to adopt Swift.
What You’ll Need
  • No prior programming experience or prerequisites.
  • Access to a Swift runtime for testing code (Xcode on macOS or the Swift toolchain via Terminal recommended for local runs).
  • A code editor for editing examples and projects (optional but helpful).

Final Verdict

Overall, Learn Swift offers a practical, low‑friction introduction to Swift that most beginners will find worthwhile.

Given its strong rating and large learner base, the free‑to‑start format with an optional paid certificate and subscription‑based access makes this course a low‑risk way to test Swift fundamentals and build several portfolio projects; learners who want end‑to‑end app development for the App Store should plan to continue with more advanced, app‑focused training afterwards.