Apple open-sourced the kernel of iOS and macOS for ARM processors. Apple has always shared the kernel of macOS after each major release. This kernel also runs on iOS devices as both macOS and iOS are built on the same foundation.

Is iOS based on macOS?

iOS: Based on Mac OS X, versions of iOS run on the iPhone, the iPod touch, and the iPad. The iOS was designed for handheld devices, and is much more tightly controlled than other versions of Mac OS X. Despite their shared origins, applications (apps) developed for iOS are not compatible with Mac OS X, and vice versa.

What is the difference between Mac OS and iOS?

The main difference is their user interfaces and underlying frameworks. iOS was built from the ground up to be interacted with touch, while macOS has been built to for interaction with a cursor. Thus UIKit , the main framework for user interfaces on iOS, is not available on Macs.