The Ultimate Guide to Hybrid App Development
Introduction
Businesses use technology for faster and cost-effective results that build human resources and satisfy the target audience. That is precisely why choosing amongst the various options of technology is inevitable. When you go for an application that represents your business it must accommodate multiple factors like; the budget, timeline, team’s comfort and experience with the technology, and also the benefits of your customers.
Today you have amazing options when it comes to mobile applications. For your business and customer satisfaction you can go for any option like; custom mobile app development or choose amongst the ready-made apps. Beyond that you can also go for three major types of mobile application that dominate the software development world.
Amongst the native mobile, web, and hybrid applications, the demand for hybrid mobile apps has skyrocketed in recent times. So, let’s discuss the ultimate guide to the development of Hybrid apps.
What is Hybrid App Development?
Does your business have a ready-made app or have you chosen a custom built app? Does your business application work on just mobile or on the web too? Is it an android application or work on the iOS platform too? Well, it’s very often said that you can’t have it all the way. But with hybrid app development, you can.
Hybrid App development is a comprehensive process that enables an app to perform on multiple platforms with a single code base. This means app developers use a specific coding language like Java, HTML, and C++ to build an app. However, with a native app, your app developer would have to code differently for each platform or operating system (windows, android, or iOS) your app will function upon. But with hybrid mobile apps, you can get your app running on any platform in less time and money with just a single codebase of HTML, Java, and C++.
Now your app can be a blend of a mobile app and web solutions that enhances the user experience. The hybrid app works like the native app with all facilities that the web application doesn’t allow. The hybrid native application has a specific browser embedded in the app through Iconic capacitor or Apache Cordova which is hidden from the users. The Cordova software helps in recreating a separate browser for the native hybrid applications so that along with web solutions the app can also provide all the features of a mobile device.
Key Benefits of Hybrid App Development
1. Optimum Maintenance
When in a Hybrid App system the users get the benefit of one app on various operating systems like windows, android, or iOS which is possible because the hybrid software is written with a codebase. Now Hybrid app development companies don’t have to specifically code the application for each platform. Hence, maintenance and productivity are improved.
2. Cost-Effective
When a hybrid developer doesn’t have to code again and again now that the hybrid application is available in a single codebase, therefore businesses now have to invest less and can ensure higher results.
3. Faster Results
You no more have to spend large sums of money and time to build different apps for various platforms because with the perfect hybrid mobile app framework a single app can perform all the functions in half the time. This improves productivity and user satisfaction, increasing the demand for hybrid mobile app development companies.
4. Multi Platforms
Hybrid app development companies offer multi-platform support because these apps are now coded once and can be used on any operating system. With this facility, users get the best hybrid mobile app framework on hybrid android apps, iOS apps, or web applications.
5. Offline Support
Hybrid mobile apps can be easily accessed in offline mode now which makes users’ life easy while they are traveling or stuck somewhere where there is no network. The real-time data may not be available but offline support makes work easy as users can save data for emergency use. Hybrid developers design mobile applications in a manner so that users can store data that they have previously used.
Features of Hybrid App Development
In today’s competitive and dynamic business environment one must keep up with the latest trends and developments. With that said, choosing the right kind of app for smooth and enhanced functioning is highly important because user satisfaction is the key. However, there are various types of mobile application options and to make a better decision one must be informed about the features of Hybrid mobile applications.
1. Hybrid Apps are portable for any platform
Hybrid app development companies provide a perfect framework to be featured on any platform or operating system with a single codebase. This is one of the best features that hybrid developers offer to users.
Hybrid app development companies are in high demand these days with their multi-platform portability.
2. Hybrid Apps function Offline
Hybrid mobile applications can now be accessed offline as users can save previously loaded data and use it when they can’t connect to wifi for real-time data.
3. Hybrid Apps can be easily connected with Web services
Hybrid apps offer a fantastic feature as it enables smooth integration with web services through the use of the Cordova hybrid app. In this manner, an individual browser is created in a native hybrid app that offers users unique and dynamic content.
4. Hybrid Apps offers embedded Browser
Hybrid app development companies set up a separate browser for native applications so that these apps can enjoy the services of both mobile devices and web solutions.
5. Hybrid Apps connect with mobile device services
Hybrid developers ensure that the Cordova hybrid app or Cordova plugin is set up in order to create a separate UI library or web browser for the native app so that users get dynamic content and also they can enjoy the facilities of the mobile devices. Once the mobile device information is accessed by the hybrid app development companies they can ensure better communication with the users.
Examples of Hybrid App Development
1. Gmail
GMAIL is the most frequently consumed app for emails that involve both professional and personal tasks. Google has been applying HTML for its mail service for years now and GMAIL is the classic example of hybrid app development.
2. Instagram
Instagram is a very popular app across the world now and is used both as a hybrid android app and an iOS hybrid app too. This app enables the storage of data for offline usage too.
3. UBER
UBER is one of the fastest transportation apps across the globe today but what’s surprising is that it is a hybrid app and it offers easy accessibility with the native application that increases customer engagement.
4. Ever note
Ever note is a high-performing app and with hybrid app features, it has become more efficient and productive. The beautiful and attractive UI is designed with the best framework for hybrid apps.
5. Facebook
Facebook is one of the widely consumed apps today and its inbuilt browser is used to find out people and organizations across the globe. In fact, before Instagram, Facebook was majorly used as a hybrid mobile app, and hence this FB is the best example of a hybrid mobile application.
Difference between Hybrid App and Native App
There are so many options of technology to choose from. You need to make a smart choice whether you want a custom Mobile App or a readymade app, a hybrid app or a native app or a cross-platform app. choosing between a hybrid mobile application and a native application could be a tricky decision as both have their significant features. So to make things easier let’s chalk out the differences between both applications:
- A native app is built for a single operating system either android or iOS, if one wants it to function on other platforms too then the hybrid app developers will have to code differently for each platform.
- A Hybrid App on the other hand works on all the required platforms without coding for each operating system separately.
- A Native app does not have a built-in browser like the hybrid app which enables the features of web applications too.
- The native app uses a platform-oriented language to code the app whereas a Hybrid App uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript the same base code for any platform.
Conclusion
Hybrid App development is one of the widely and frequently used processes today that promises higher efficiency and productivity. Businesses and consumers no longer want time-consuming and expensive investments and keep hunting for technology that replaces traditional tools. Hybrid applications fall into similar lines.
Getting an application that can be easily used on any platform without coding, again and again, is a great option to go for. These hybrid developers design your application not only around the pattern of a native app but also combine the features of web applications too. In fact, the Cordova hybrid apps recreate a specific browser that offers unique and dynamic information to the users. Apart from that, just a web application doesn’t offer the features of mobile devices like access to the contact list, gallery, etc. However, the hybrid app framework enables a better amalgamation of web and mobile where hybrid app development companies offer a one-stop place for everything.
Hybrid Apps use the same coding language i.e. HTML, CSS, and Java to build an app around all platforms that saves both time and money. In this hybrid universe, one can use various plugins to set up a separate browser in order to offer better quality and unique content.
