Upon developing a mobile app, many decisions should be taken. Choosing the technology to code an app can be a confusing decision. So what are the technologies used and how they differ?
There are 3 approaches to mobile apps development: native, hybrid, and cross-platform.
Native apps
Native development means developing an app for a specific platform. Each platform has specific tools and languages. For example, Xcode is the tool used to build iOS apps, and the code is written in Swift or Objective-C. On the other hand, Android apps are developed using Android Studio with Java or Kotlin.
Users love native apps due to their high performance and native UX. These apps look familiar to the users because they use the platform UI elements. Furthermore, these apps benefit from all the functionalities of the device and the OS.
But there are some drawbacks. This type of development is more expensive. Further, multiple code-bases should be made to support different platforms leading to increased costs and development time.
Hybrid Apps
Hybrid development utilizes web technologies to build a mobile app that runs on multiple platforms. The codebase is written in HTML, CSS, and Javascript and then wrapped in a web view to make a stand-alone app for each platform.
This type of development is cheaper than native development. It’s also much faster and allows code sharing.
Yet, these apps are limited in terms of functionality. They can’t reach all the device’s hardware and some OS functions aren’t available. Besides, these apps have sluggish performance, and building a good user experience is challenging.
Cross-Platform Apps
Cross-platform development uses a native rendering engine. The codebase can be written in Javascript, Dart, or other languages depending on the tools used. The code connects to native components by bridging.
Cross-platform apps provide better UX than hybrid apps. They are cost-effective too.
Some functions require custom modifications for each platform. Additionally, the performance is not that compelling. Customization can be painful depending on the framework’s limitations.
Conclusion
Ultimately, there is no absolute choice between these three types. The choice depends on the features and functionalities needed, the platforms to be supported, the budget, and time.