“The progressive web development has led to the shifting of market trends and user’s demand leading to the inevitable solution of development of mobile applications.”
What is mobile app development?
Mobile application development deals with the whole procedure of designing and developing mobile applications for easing the user’s accessibility and increasing the sales and revenue of your brand and business digitally. Implementing this particular marketing strategy will help all the budding entrepreneurs to access the market from a different angle. Thereby, mobile apps will offer an edge and empowering sense of business venture in this competitive market. Therefore, mobile apps developed by the expert app developers of the best mobile app development company offers an edge and empowering sense of business venture in this competitive market.
Different Types of Mobile Applications
Each of the different types of mobile applications has its own pros and cons that have led to the bifurcation based on their performance, application, and type of resources are available at hand.
There are 3 types of mobile application on the basis of programming technology which are listed below-
1. Native Apps
Native applications are created for any specific operating system (OS) or platform for a mobile device. These types of applications can only be accessed through any one platform, that is it can either be a native Android mobile app or native iOS app ( also other platforms and devices respectfully). They do not have the power or source to mix and match and run on any platform. For example, an iOS app can't run on a Windows phone, or a Blackberry app cannot run on an Android phone.
- Technology Used-
All the native applications are coded using myriad scripting or programming languages like Java, Python, Swift, Objective-C, Kotlin, React, Xcode, etc.
- Pros-
Native apps have a singular focus which leads to certain advantages like being faster, more performance reliable, efficient, and offering the users a more optimized customer experience. They are effective and efficient in utilizing the device’s resources when compared to other mobile applications like connecting with the device’s hardware directly. This leads to the accessibility to a wide choice of device features like Bluetooth, phonebook contacts, camera roll, near field communication (NFC) and so much more. They have the ability to fully utilize User Interface(UI) and User Experience(UX) for a seamless digital journey.
- Cons-
Native applications also have some downfalls. The code you create for your specific platform cannot be reused again on any other platform. As the native apps can be accessed on a specific platform, while developing the app, you need to duplicate the whole process each time you want the app on a different platform or device. It is also a long and time-consuming process to maintain an updated codebase application for each of the various applications of different versions. You need to download the latest version or the new file and then reinstall it as it takes a lot of space in the device storage.
2. Web Apps
Web applications are created so that they can work on any mobile device or operating system (OS) as they are the responsive version and can stand alone which is delivered to the users using a mobile browser. Web applications have the same behavioral pattern as the native applications as you need to download and install the code into your mobile device but different in a way as it can be accessed through a web browser, unlike the native apps. You can even get across the option ‘install’ on the web application and therefore bookmark the URL of the website on your current device. They are responsive which means that they can adapt its user interface according to the user’s device. There is a different variety of web app known as the progressive web application or PWA that acts as a native app but can run within a web browser.
- Technology Used-
All the web applications are designed and developed using HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, Ruby, and other equivalent scripting and programming languages.
- Pros-
Web applications help in minimizing the development costs as it is web-based, there is no requirement of customizing the application to a specific platform. It also won’t take any additional space in your storage device as there is no need for downloading like a native application. This also eases the need for maintenance as we can just push the update live over the web browser avoiding the whole process of downloading the update from the app store on your mobile device.
- Cons-
One of the major downsides of using web applications is that the whole functionality is entirely dependable on the web browser that is on the mobile device and the unavailability of the same on other devices may generate a different user experience each time. Web applications cannot work completely offline as there are the shells for the website. Therefore, your mobile device needs an internet connection all time to back up all the data, offer up new data, or refresh the data that is already on the screen when viewed on your device.
3. Hybrid Apps
Hybrid applications are created blending both the native and web applications with the capability of functioning as its own like a native app but consists of its own icon, therefore, opening the facility of being downloaded from an app store. They are a web app to its core but have a visual and aesthetic appeal of a native app. Sometimes they even have a home screen app icon. They are fast, high-performance, and even function offline. They are a lot cheaper to build compared to native applications.
- Technology Used-
All the hybrid applications have a mix and blend of myriad web technologies and native Application Programming Interface or APIs like using Objective-C, Swift, HTML5, and other similar technologies.
- Pros-
Hybrid applications are much faster, more economical, load rapidly, use a single code base, and require minimum maintenance of codes compared to native applications. As it loads rapidly and requires less time to run, it is very helpful when there is a slower internet connection by providing a consistent flow of user experience. Therefore, hybrid applications are a more viable option rather than native applications.
- Cons-
Sometimes hybrid applications lack the power and speed due to their complex single coding and therefore reduce the speed putting a backward foot when compared with native apps. It may slow down the working speed as it has to download each element. Sometimes, some of the functionalities may also be not accessible on different devices.
Key Takeaway
Every single type of mobile application has its own scope of working integration, has its own advantages and disadvantages that you need to consider before developing an application for your eCommerce. It is based on different key decisions that need to be considered according to your business scale, resources, timeline, efficiency, and developmental costs involved, before taking the final call. And above everything, it is important to take professional advice for thriving exponentially. Entrepreneurs must reach out to the leading mobile app development company in India and consult with expert app developers to make the best decision.
