App technology is evolving day by day. The app downloads are estimated to reach 299 billion by 2023. Our lives have become dependent on apps, like Twitter, and Instagram, even for shopping and dining. We use apps like Amazon and Grubhub. There are 3.48 million different types of apps available on the Android Play Store, and 2.22 million apps are available on the Apple App Store.
With the extreme competition going out in the app market business owners are going deep about the performance, quality, preciseness, functionality, and other important technical aspects of app development. Here is a series of approaches to app development.
Today in this blog we will talk about the main difference between the Cross-Platform approach and the Hybrid approach.
What are Hybrid Apps?
Hybrid apps are a combination of native and web solutions. In these apps, developers have to embed the code written in languages like CSS, HTML, and JavaScript in native apps using plug-ins like Apache Cordova, and Ionic’s Capacitor for enabling access to native functionalities. In Hybrid app development majorly there are two components back-end code and a native viewer.
In Hybrid apps, the code is written once and the same code can be useful for multiple platforms. Hybrid apps are great in performance and user experience near native apps. These apps are lacking in UX designs and navigation patterns. The main problem with Hybrid apps is there is no offline support. Instagram, Evernote, and Airbus are some examples of Hybrid apps.
Advantages of Hybrid app
Rapid app development
Easy maintenance
Ease of development
Cost reduction
Languages used in Hybrid app
JavaScript
HTML
CSS
Popular Frameworks used in Hybrid Apps
Ionic
Apache Cordova
What are Cross-Platform apps?
Majorly in the market Hybrid apps and Cross-Platform apps are considered the same but that’s not the scenario. Both platforms are different. Cross-Platform apps are developed with the same agenda of developing shareable and reusable code for developing apps for different operating systems. This app does not have a component of a web solution.
Cross-Platform apps are packed with features like rapid implementation, robust functionalities, and cost reduction. These apps are lacking in high performance and there are limitations in customization features.
Advantages of Cross-Platform apps?
Hassle-free and app development process
Easy app maintenance
Code reusability
Cost reduction
The languages used in Cross-Platform apps are the same as in Hybrid apps. The language implementation is different from Hybrid apps, as these apps do not have the component of embedded web solutions.
Popular frameworks used in Cross-Platform Apps
React Native
Xamarin
Flutter
These were the definitions, advantages, languages, and popular frameworks used in Hybrid and Cross-Platform app development. Now let’s dig deeper into which app development platform should we use and when to use it.
When to use Hybrid app development?
When you need rapid development.
You are planning to launch both a web app and a mobile app.
Your application’s target audience is a wider web app and mobile app.
You are launching apps with a strategy of the minimum viable product (MVP).
Your applications require native features like a camera, GPS, and so on.
When to use Cross-Platform app development?
When you want to launch your app on a limited budget, time, and resources.
Your target audience is both Android and IOS platforms.
You need faster app development.
The app does not require functionalities that may vary according to the operating system.
Conclusion
Irrespective of industry mobile applications are beneficial for every business. This blog answers your questions about which app development approach you should use. All the app approaches have their pros and cons. If you are planning for an application with great performance and UI/UX design that will feel the app like it is integrated into the system you can choose a native app development approach.
You can choose the Cross-Platform or Hybrid app development approach. When you have a requirement of covering web and mobile app audiences then this approach would be more suitable. Choosing the right mobile app development approach depends upon your unique app requirement.
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