iOS

iOS

Developer	Apple, Inc.
Source model	Closed source (with open source components)
Initial release	iPhone OS 1 (29 June 2007)
Latest release	iOS 16.3 (20D47) (23 January 2023)
Latest preview	iOS 16.3 (20D47) (18 January 2023)
Supported platforms	ARM64 (as of iOS 7), ARM32 (prior to iOS 11)
Kernel type	Hybrid (XNU)
User interface	Cocoa Touch
License	Proprietary (with open source components)

iOS is a series of mobile operating systems developed by Apple for their mobile device platforms (iPhone, iPod, and iPad). It was originally or formerly called iPhone OS and introduced alongside the 1st generation iPhone. The name stayed until the release of the iPad in early 2010 when Apple rebranded it to iOS. In 2019, Apple began to use the iPadOS moniker to brand the version of the operating system used on iPad devices.

iOS is based on the codebase of macOS, formerly OS X, and shares the same kernel, filesystem, and binary formats. The userland of iOS is like that of macOS, but with a mobile-friendly design that is touchscreen and content-centric. iOS lacks direct access to the filesystem and is unable to run arbitrary code by default. The only distribution method for software officially allowed on iOS is the built-in App Store.

iOS's userland consists of a home screen (known as Springboard) that manages the user's applications. Many applications from macOS exist in iOS and vice-versa.

Since the release of iOS 11 in 2017, iOS has only been compiled for 64-bit ARM-based processors. Since the release of iOS 16 in 2022, iOS has only been compiled for iPhone models.

No official emulator that can run the retail version of iOS exists. However, Apple provides the iOS Simulator, which runs a modified build of iOS on top of macOS with output in a dedicated window. Unofficial emulators like Corellium and QEMU-T8030 can emulate iOS to an extent.

Timeline

Name	Darwin version	Codename	Release date	Notes
iPhone OS 1	9.0	Alpine (iPhone OS 1.0) SUHeavenlyJuly (iPhone OS 1.0.1 - 1.0.2) Snowbird (iPhone OS 1.1 - 1.1.1) Oktoberfest (iPhone OS 1.1.2) Little Bear (iPhone OS 1.1.3 - 1.1.5)	June 2007
iPhone OS 2	9.3.1	Big Bear (iPhone OS 2.0 - 2.0.2) Sugar Bowl (iPhone OS 2.1 - 2.1.1) Timberline (iPhone OS 2.2) SUTimberline (2.2.1)	July 2008
iPhone OS 3	10.0	Kirkwood (iPhone OS 3.0 - 3.0.1) Northstar (iPhone OS 3.1 - 3.1.2) SUNorthstarTwo (iPhone OS 3.1.3) Wildcat (iPhone OS 3.2 - 3.2.2)	June 2009	First version of iOS to support the iPad
iOS 4	10.3.1	Apex (iOS 4.0 - 4.0.2) Baker (iOS 4.1 - 4.1.1) Jasper (iOS 4.2 - 4.2.4) Phoenix (iOS 4.2.5 - 4.2.10) Durango (iOS 4.3 -4.2.5)	June 2010
iOS 5	11	Telluride (iOS 5.0 - 5.0.1) Hoodoo (iOS 5.1 - 5.1.1)	October 2011
iOS 6	13	Sundance (iOS 6.0 - 6.0.2) Brighton (iOS 6.1 - 6.1.6)	September 2012	Final version of iOS to include the skeuomorphic UI
iOS 7	14	Innsbruck (iOS 7.0 - 7.0.6) Sochi (iOS 7.1 - 7.1.2)	September 2013	First version of iOS to bring support for ARM64
iOS 8	14	Okemo (iOS 8.0 - 8.0.2) OkemoTaos (iOS 8.1 - 8.1.3) OkemoZurs (iOS 8.2 - 8.2.1) Stowe (iOS 8.3) Copper (iOS 8.4 - 8.4.1)	September 2014
iOS 9	15	Monarch (iOS 9.0 - 9.0.2) Boulder (iOS 9.1 - 9.1.1) Castlerock (iOS 9.2 - 9.2.2) Eagle (iOS 9.3 - 9.3.1) Frisco (iOS 9.3.2) Genoa (iOS 9.3.3 - 9.3.6)	September 2015
iOS 10	16	Whitetail (iOS 10.0 - 10.0.3) Butler (iOS 10.1 - 10.1.1) Corry (iOS 10.2 - 10.2.1) Erie (iOS 10.3 - 10.3.1) Franklin (iOS 10.3.2) Greensburg (iOS 10.3.3 - 10.3.4)	September 2016	Final version of iOS with 32-bit ARM support
iOS 11	17	Tigris (iOS 11.0 - 11.0.2) Bursa (iOS 11.1 - 11.1.2) Cinar (iOS 11.2 - 11.2.2) Dalaman (iOS 11.2.5 - 11.2.6) Emet (iOS 11.3 - 11.3.1) Fatsa (iOS 11.4) Gebze (iOS 11.4.1)	September 2017
iOS 12	18	Peace (iOS 12.0 - 12.5.6)	September 2018
iOS 13	19	Yukon (iOS 13.0 - 13.7)	September 2019
iOS 14	20	Azul (iOS 14.0 - 14.8.1)	September 2020
iOS 15	21	Sky (iOS 15.0 - 15.7.2)	September 2021	Final version of iOS to support the iPod Touch
iOS 16	22	Sydney (iOS 16.0 - 16.3)	September 2022