Many businesses are now faced with the challenge of developing mobile apps for multiple platforms, specifically Android and iOS. As a result, cross platform mobile development solutions have emerged as a popular software development trend.
According to Statista, in the first quarter of 2021, there were 3.48 million mobile apps available on the Google Play Store and 2.22 million apps on the App Store, with Android and iOS now accounting for 99% of the global mobile operating system market.
How do you develop a mobile app that Android and iOS users can use?
In this article, you’ll learn why more and more mobile engineers opt for cross-platform or multiplatform mobile development.
Multiplatform mobile development is a technique that enables you to build a single mobile application that functions smoothly on most operating systems. In cross-platform apps, a few or even all of the source code can be shared. This means developers can create and deploy mobile assets that work on Android and iOS without recoding them for each platform.
Different Approaches to Mobile App Development
There are four main ways to create an application for both Android and iOS.
Separate Native Apps for Each Operating System
When creating native apps, developers build an application for a particular operating system and rely on tools and programming languages designed specifically for one platform: Kotlin or Java for Android, Objective-C, or Swift for iOS.
These tools and languages give you access to the features and capabilities of a given OS and allow you to craft responsive apps with intuitive interfaces. But if you want to reach Android and iOS audiences, you will have to create separate applications, which are tedious and requires a lot of effort.
Progressive Web Apps
Progressive web apps combine the features of mobile apps with solutions used in web development. Roughly speaking, they offer a website and mobile application mix. Developers build PWAs using web technologies, such as JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and WebAssembly.
Web applications do not require separate bundling or distribution and can be published online. They are accessible via the browser on your computer, smartphone, and tablet and don’t need to be installed via Google Play or the App Store.
The drawback here is that a user cannot utilize all of their device’s functionality, for example, contacts, calendars, the phone, and other assets, which results in a limited user experience. In terms of app performance, native apps have the lead.
Cross-Platform Apps
As mentioned earlier, multiplatform apps are designed to run identically on different mobile platforms. Cross-platform frameworks allow you to write shareable and reusable code to develop these apps.
This approach has several benefits, such as efficiency concerning both time and cost.
Hybrid Apps
When browsing websites and forums, you may notice that some people use the terms “cross-platform mobile development” and “hybrid mobile development” interchangeably. Doing so, however, is not entirely accurate.
Regarding cross-platform apps, mobile engineers can write code once and then reuse it on different platforms. Hybrid app development, on the other hand, is an approach that combines native and web technologies. It requires you to embed code written in a web development language like HTML, CSS, or JavaScript into a native app. This is possible with the help of frameworks, such as Ionic Capacitor and Apache Cordova, using additional plugins to access the native functionalities of platforms.
The only similarity between cross-platform and hybrid development is code shareability. In terms of performance, hybrid applications are not on par with native apps. Because hybrid apps deploy a single code base, some features are specific to a particular OS and don’t function well on others.
Mobile Application Development Service in Pakistan
If you are searching for the best mobile application development company in Pakistan, stop the search now and connect with CompassDX, as they are the pioneers of providing the best services for your business by providing digital onboarding and other software solutions.
FAQs:
What is cross-platform mobile development?
Cross-platform mobile development is a technique that allows developers to create a single mobile application that can run on multiple operating systems, such as Android and iOS.
Why choose cross-platform development?
Cross-platform development offers benefits like code reusability, time and cost efficiency, and reaching a wider audience with a single app.
What are the main approaches to mobile app development?
The main approaches are separate native apps for each OS, progressive web apps, cross-platform apps, and hybrid apps.
What are the advantages of separate native apps?
Separate native apps provide access to platform-specific features and offer a high level of performance and responsiveness. However, they require building and maintaining separate codebases for each platform.
What are progressive web apps (PWAs)?
PWAs combine web technologies with mobile app features. They are accessible via browsers and don’t require installation from app stores. However, they may have limitations in utilizing device-specific functionalities.
What are the benefits of cross-platform apps?
Cross-platform apps allow developers to write code once and deploy it on multiple platforms, saving time and effort. They offer a consistent user experience across different operating systems.
How do hybrid apps differ from cross-platform apps?
Hybrid apps combine native and web technologies. They embed web development code into a native app using frameworks like Ionic Capacitor and Apache Cordova. Hybrid apps may not perform as well as native apps due to platform-specific limitations.
Which approach is the best for mobile app development?
The choice depends on various factors like project requirements, budget, timeline, and desired user experience. Each approach has its pros and cons, so it’s important to evaluate them based on specific needs.
Where can I find reliable mobile application development services in Pakistan?
CompassDX is a leading mobile application development company in Pakistan, offering top-notch services including digital onboarding and software solutions.
How can CompassDX help with my mobile app development needs?
CompassDX provides comprehensive mobile app development services tailored to your business requirements, ensuring high-quality solutions and efficient delivery. Contact them to discuss your specific needs and get expert assistance.
Also Read:
Custom Web Application Development: Benefits & Best Practices
The Benefits Of Custom Mobile App Development Services In Pakistan
