In this era of technological advancements, smartphones are becoming one of the most important devices in our daily lives. For that reason, mobile applications have become an essential part of our regular lives. Today’s generations are almost absolutely dependent on the digital world; they love to explore everything on social networking sites. Nowadays, from shopping for groceries to clothes and cosmetics to food, every shopping is done online. With the constant growth of mobile technology and digital equipment, it’s quite important to understand the different types of mobile applications and their benefits today. Each type offers a unique approach to functionality, user experience, and platform compatibility. In general, mobile applications can be segmented into three main types: native apps, hybrid apps, and progressive web apps (PWAs). Each of them can fulfill different kinds of needs, depending on various factors like performance, development costs, and device integration.
Different Types of Mobile Applications
There are mainly three different types of mobile apps:
- Native Apps
- Hybrid Apps
- PWA (Progressive Web Apps).
1. Native Apps
The development of native apps is limited to one single platform or operating system. They also use a specific programming language for that platform or operating system. Typically, users can select any kind of platform between iOS, Android, or Windows Phone. Here, the implication is that a native application will utilize the specific features provided by a platform’s native API, but it will also rely on its ecosystem to support features like app distribution. For example, the codebase for the Google Play store will be used by a native app created for Android. But by adapting to the specific features of different operating systems, native apps can offer superior user experiences.
Examples of Native Apps: WhatsApp, Snapchat, Google Maps, Uber, etc.
Pros of Native Apps:
- Their performance is at its peak.
- These are quite secure.
- These involve user interaction.
- They can use all of the device’s functionalities.
Cons of Native Apps:
- They have only one platform on which they are developed.
- The expenses of maintenance are high.
2. Hybrid Apps
A hybrid application is one of the types of mobile applications that can combine special features from both web and native applications. The web technologies HTML, Javascript, CSS, etc. are used to write hybrid apps that are compatible with a variety of OSs and devices. The Javascript/ HTML code is wrapped with the mobile development framework Cordova, which also connects the device’s hardware and features. Like native apps, hybrid applications are developed on a single platform and made available through numerous app stores, including the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. For applications that do not require complete device access or high performance, hybrid apps are the best option for such cases.
In the comparison between native and hybrid apps, native apps continue to perform better than hybrid apps because they are customized for specific hardware and operating systems. Even now, it is possible for development teams to create native apps without fighting with Objective-C or Swift, and just by using common web technologies like Javascript, Angular, HTML, and CSS.
Examples of Hybrid Apps: Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, Facebook, LinkedIn, etc.
Pros of Hybrid Apps:
- The cost of maintenance is lower for these.
- It’s simple to create these.
- They can use the device’s functionalities.
- Faster development since there is only one codebase.
Cons of Hybrid Apps:
- When compared to native apps, these are slower.
- Less than native applications’ engaging potential.
3. PWA (Progressive Web Apps)
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a versatile substitute for a traditional web app because it doesn’t require downloading. It operates inside an app browser instead. By doing this, PWAs can become faster, more flexible, and smaller online apps that replicate or match the user experience of native apps. PWAs are commonly run using HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web Assembly.
Examples of Progressive Web Apps: Telegram, Starbucks, Tinder, etc.
Pros of PWA:
- Compared to web pages, they offer faster and more responsive performance.
- These require minor maintenance.
- These are less expensive than hybrid and native apps.
- Functions across all platforms.
- They are capable of offline work.
Cons of PWA:
- Their software and hardware support is somewhat restricted.
- It is not possible to use technical alternatives like Bluetooth or NFC.
Read More: Flutter vs React Native: Which Framework is Best for Developers?
Conclusion: Types of Mobile Application
To build different types of mobile applications in HCI, there are numerous types of mobile applications, such as social media apps, lifestyle apps, educational apps, entertainment-based apps, gaming applications, and many more, like stronger foundations such as native apps, hybrid apps, and progressive web apps. All types of mobile applications have distinctive advantages along with some consequences. Cross-platform programming is quickly becoming more prominent because it can mix native experiences with multi-platform versatility. The numerous aspects to consider, such as cost, time to market, user experience, and hardware and software integration, may make choosing the best option more difficult.