macOS and iOS

Simulator

Simulator is Apple's tool for running and testing applications in simulated Apple-device environments on a Mac. It uses platform runtimes and does not reproduce every hardware behavior or performance characteristic of a physical device.

Also known as: iOS Simulator

Why it matters

Simulated devices make broad platform testing easier without replacing hardware validation.

Practical example

Use simulator tests for rapid feedback, then test hardware-dependent features on physical devices.

Related terms

Simulator Runtime
Code Signing
Provisioning Profile
Apple Silicon

Sources

developer.apple.com · running your app in simulator or on a device

Definition reviewed 2026-10-26.

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