Overview of Amplitude SDK for iOS

Mar 4, 2025

iOS SDK for Amplitude Analytics and tracking

Carrier Tracking

  • Unsupported in iOS 16+ due to deprecated APIs.
  • Amplitude will update when Apple provides a replacement.

Installing the SDK

  • Install with CocoaPods, Carthage, or Swift Package Manager.

CocoaPods

  • Add to Podfile and run pod install.

Carthage

  • Add to Cartfile and follow Carthage documentation.

Swift Package Manager

  • Navigate to File > Swift Package Manager > Add Package Dependency and add the repository URL.

Initializing the SDK

  • Requires API key for your Amplitude project.
  • Initialize in application:didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:

Example Code

[Amplitude instance].defaultTracking.sessions = YES;
[Amplitude instance].initializeApiKey("API_KEY");

Amplitude.instance().defaultTracking.sessions = true;
Amplitude.instance().initializeApiKey("API_KEY");

Configuring the SDK

  • Customize settings such as event upload periods, max batch size, and server URL.
  • setServerZone for EU data residency.

Sending Events

  • Log user interactions like button clicks.
  • Events can include properties for more context.

User Properties

  • Manage using AMPIdentify class.
  • Operations available: set, setOnce, add, remove, and more.
  • Allows for detailed user analysis and tracking.

Default Event Tracking

  • Track sessions, app lifecycles, screen views, and deep links.
  • Controlled via defaultTracking options.

User and Group Management

  • Set user IDs, user properties, and group memberships.
  • Use setGroup and logEventWithGroups for group-based analytics.

Revenue Tracking

  • Track revenue with AMPRevenue class.
  • Log revenue-related events for financial analytics.

Advanced Topics

User Sessions

  • Sessions are tracked automatically; custom configurations available.
  • Log events out-of-session if necessary.

Debugging and Privacy Settings

  • Enable debug logging and manage user privacy with options like COPPA control.

Dynamic Configuration

  • Allows automatic server URL configuration based on user location.

Security and Privacy

  • Unique instance names can prevent unauthorized access to app data.
  • Apple privacy manifest updates required for compliance.

tvOS, watchOS, and App Clips

  • SDK supports these platforms with specific configurations.

Middleware and Offline Mode

  • Extend functionality with middleware.
  • Offline mode enables local event storage until connectivity is restored.

Opt-Out Tracking

  • Users can completely disable tracking if they choose.

Additional Considerations

  • Ensure compliance with Apple's privacy requirements.
  • Update privacy manifests according to app configuration.