A universal application is an application that is designed for both iPhone and iPad in a single binary. A universal application allows code reuse and fast updates.

Universal Application – Steps Involved

Step 1 − Create a simple View based application.

Step 2 − Change the File name ViewController.xib file to ViewController_iPhone.xib as shown below in the file inspector in the right hand side.

Step 3 − Select File → New → File… then select the subsection “User Interface” and select View. Click Next.

Step 4 − Select the device family as iPad and click next.

Step 5 − Save the file as ViewController_iPad.xib and select Create.

Step 6 − Add a label in the center of the screen in both ViewController_iPhone.xib and ViewController_iPad.xib.

Step 7 − In ViewController_iPad.xib, select the identity inspector and set the custom class as ViewController.

Step 8 − Update the application:DidFinishLaunching:withOptions method in AppDelegate.m as follows −

- (BOOL)application:(UIApplication *)application
   didFinishLaunchingWithOptions:(NSDictionary *)launchOptions {
   self.window = [[UIWindow alloc] initWithFrame:[[UIScreen 
   mainScreen] bounds]];
   
   // Override point for customization after application launch.
   if (UI_USER_INTERFACE_IDIOM() == UIUserInterfaceIdiomPhone) {
      self.viewController = [[ViewController alloc] 
      initWithNibName:@"ViewController_iPhone" bundle:nil];
   } else {
      self.viewController = [[ViewController alloc] initWithNibName:
      @"ViewController_iPad" bundle:nil];
   }
   self.window.rootViewController = self.viewController;
   [self.window makeKeyAndVisible];
   return YES;
}

Step 9 − Update the devices in project summary to Universal as shown below −

Output

When we run the application, we”ll get the following output −

When we run the application in iPad simulator, we”ll get the following output −