Platform for mobile app development
1. Cross platform
Cross platform means the same code can be used to develop both android and IOS application.In other words, It will work for both operating system i.e. IOS and android without compromising any features.
- flutter (Dart)
- React Native
For example: WhatsApp is a free cross-platform messaging app that lets you call and text anyone, anywhere, at any time. You should not be restricted by the operating system you use for using WhatsApp because it is compatible with both iOS and Android phones.
Thus, cross platform is easy to build and maintain by saving time and effort as single code can be useful for both android and IOS. For example: Facebook, Instagram and Walmart are all cross-platform apps with considerably high numbers of users.
Pros:
Building Cross-Platform Apps Requires Less Time
Cross-Platform Apps Require Lower Development Costs
Easy Access to Cross-Platform Developers
No Limited Features with Cross-Platform Apps
It is Easier to Fix Bugs & Update Cross-Platform Apps
Faster Marketing for Cross-Platform Apps
Cons:
1. Performance Might Get Affected by Cross-Platform development
2. Cross-Platform Apps Require Complex Coding
3. Upgrading Cross-Platform Apps Isn't that Easy
2. Native
Native platform means it is written for only one platform either android or IOS. In other word, in native platform mobile app are customized, design and committed solely for single OS android or IOS.
- Android: Kotlin, Java
- IOS: Swift, Objective - C
As the app is designed for a particular platform, native app provides an outstanding user experience. However, native development requires more time, effort and cost as the code for android and IOS must be developed separately.
For example: Apple Maps is a native iOS navigation app that is free and which allows you to get a turn-by-turn direction to various destinations, real-time traffic information, and places of interest. Being developed purely on Swift and UIKit and iOS, it will perfectly sync with iPhone operations like Siri, CarPlay, and the Dark Mode of the system itself, so that no compromises will exist to performance or the ultimate user experience on your Apple-made product.
Thus, Native platform are preferred over cross platform for its smart performance. They operate and load faster throughout the systems and have fewer bugs overall. Also it allows developers to explore all the possible options fully it provides without compromising for other types of gadgets.
Pros:
1. Best Performance
2. Advanced Security
3. Lower Risks of Bugs
4. More Visual Appeal
5. Offer Better User Experience
6. Receive Fast Updates
Cons:
1. Require more efforts
2. Costly compared to cross platform
3. Time consuming to develop app
3. Hybrid Mobile Applications
Although they aren't exactly the same, the terms hybrid and cross-platform are sometimes used interchangeably. Hybrid apps can be created once and run on both platforms, just as cross-platform apps.
However, hybrid development is a little easier to utilize than cross-platform development. The process of creating cross-platform apps is still very technical and calls for expertise in app development. With no-code app builders or a rudimentary understanding of web programming, hybrid development is less complicated.
4. Progressive Web Application (PWA)
PWAs are applications that are distributed online rather than installed locally on a user's device.
Thanks to advancements in technology, PWAs now resemble native app experiences in both appearance and feel. Even better, you can use the web browser to give push notifications to users. However, PWAs' capabilities with a device's native features will be somewhat more constrained.
