#native app developer

Global mobile app revenues in 2018 were about 365 billion U.S. dollars and in 2023, they are expected to exceed 935 billion U.S. dollars. (- says a report generated by Statista, a leading online portal for statistics.) These exponentially growing numbers show that the mobile app industry is thriving.

As a result, many businesses think of developing a mobile app to attract more and more customers. But they don’t know how to go about it. The most basic question they face while selecting a specific app development approach is whether to go for Native or hybrid application development. This is rather a debatable question as both the approaches have their pros and cons. But, the businesses need to be aware of all the latest technologies, their advantages and drawbacks to make the right decision.

In this article, we have specifically mentioned about Native app development and how it can be a better choice as compared to Hybrid.

Overview of Native app development and Native apps

Native app development is a process in which mobile apps are created for working on a specific platform like Android, iOS, Blackberry or Windows. Native apps work only on a particular operating system, which means that the developers need to create a separate version of apps for different operating systems. They need to be downloaded from platform-specific app stores like Google Play and Apple’s App Store.

For Native Android app development, programming languages like Java, Kotlin, and C++ are used. Also, Google provides excellent tools for app development such as:

· Android SDK (software development kit)

· IDE (integrated development environment) for development.

· Command-line tools for Linux, Windows and Mac

· Android Jetpack, a set of pre-made tools, components and guidelines

For Native iOS app development, programming languages like Objective-C and Swift are used. Also, Apple provides advanced tools for development like:

· iOS SDK integrated with the Cocoa Touch platform

· XCode, the IDE for iOS app development

· TestFlight, online service for beta testing of apps

· Swift Playgrounds, a development environment and learning platform for Swift

Top benefits of Native apps over Hybrid apps

Although, Hybrid apps have advantages like easy development and lower developmental costs, yet Native apps have several benefits, summarized in a few simple points given below. 

Flawless Performance

Native apps have faster operating speeds. These are performance-centric apps. Native app developers write separate code for different operating systems. Since the apps are built only for a particular operating system, they are more efficient and work smoothly. These apps directly interact with native APIs and don’t depend on plugins or WebViews. As there are fewer dependencies on plugins, they are more responsive than Hybrid apps. This is important for applications involving heavy graphics, intensive animation, HD games, etc. 

Great user experience

These apps have a consistent and intriguing feel and look as they are built using native SDKs. There are no discrepancies between the operating system and the app design. Also, there are possibilities of employing advanced UX/UI design and animation in Native app development. So, Native apps provide a richer experience to the users. Comparatively, Hybrid apps are slower. They are not as interactive as Native apps, affecting the user experience.

Instant access to new features

Unlike Hybrid apps, Native apps can immediately access the latest features for both, Android and iOS platforms. In the case of Hybrid apps, web technologies don’t use the native APIs directly and so, a plugin that supports the latest features is required for accessing them.  

Good security and safety

Native apps have greater level of security and reliability as compared to Hybrid apps. They provide high-end data protection to users. Most businesses prefer Native over cross-platform mobile app development due to high-security reasons.

Better Flexibility

Native apps have good integration with in-built devices like GPS, calendar, camera, touch screen, navigation systems, etc. functions of the mobile. Comparatively, hybrid apps have a few limitations and can’t access certain features.

 Summary:

Poor experience of a mobile app can lead to aversion and customers may instantly find a replacement to it. So, for any business, it is very important to choose the right platform for the app development process. The decision to choose between Native and Hybrid is completely dependent on the priorities and goals of your business. However, if you want a high-performing and secure app, Native app development can be the right choice.