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What Is Cross-Platform Mobile Web Development?
Many businesses have to optimize their work in terms of time and cost resources. In this context, the importance of mobile web development can hardly be exaggerated. Being integrated into Android and iOS devices, mobile applications can perform a wide range of functions to cover business needs. In 2021, Google Play Store and App Store contained almost 3.5 and 2.20 million mobile apps accordingly.
Cross-platform mobile development solutions have turned into efficient software development trends. To address the specific business needs, mobile engineers are free to pick the most suitable mobile development approach. Let’s see how this trend works these days.
Cross-platform mobile app development: definition and solutions
Mobile web development is an approach that allows you to create a single mobile app that functions smoothly on the major operating systems. Mobile apps are compatible with both Android and iOS. The development process can be organized in two ways:
Separate native apps for operating systems
When developing native apps, you will focus on the particular operating system. All features will be designed specifically for one platform. For example, Kotlin and Java are adjusted to Android, as well as Objective-C and Swift to iOS. If you decide to make your app more flexible, you can pick the one that addresses both Android and iOS audiences.
Progressive web apps (PWAs)
Progressive web apps have a wide range of features that serve as solutions in web development. They happen to be a combination of a website and a mobile application. To reach a high level of efficiency, developers create PWAs by means of web technologies like JavaScript, HTML, CSS, and WebAssembly.
Cross-platform mobile apps don’t need particular bundles or distributions. They can be accessed via the browser on your mobile and desktop devices. Installation via Google Play or the App Store isn’t necessary. The bad thing is that the average user can’t reveal all of their device’s functional potential. The limitations are related to contacts, calendars, and other assets. Native apps have the lead to optimizing a business performance.
Cross-platform apps
Multiplatform apps manage to run smoothly on different mobile platforms. Cross-platform frameworks make it possible to write shareable and reusable code. This approach provides efficiency in regard to both time and cost resources. Optimization of the business processes becomes faster and more efficient.
Hybrid apps
Cross-platform mobile development is also known as hybrid mobile development. Is it really the case? Mobile engineers can create code once and then use it some more times. In this context, hybrid app development serves as a combination of native and web technologies. It requires you to integrate HTML, CSS, or JavaScript codes into native apps. The frameworks based on additional plugins can give you access to the native functionalities of platforms. As you can see, cross-platform and hybrid development has code shareability, but nothing more.
Is cross-platform mobile development right for you?
Cross-platform mobile app development has proved its efficiency in the business sector. To gain the best approach, the factors like business requirements, objectives, and tasks need to be taken into consideration. If you are not sure about using cross-platform mobile development, you should learn how to benefit from it first.
Benefits of cross-platform development
Many businesses have already tried their luck with cross-platform mobile development. Their decision has been determined by the following benefits.
1. Reusable code
Cross-platform mobile development allows businesses to use the same code again and again. Instead of developing new codes for every particular platform, a single code can be reused. By eliminating repetition in the task, businesses can save time and money.
2. Time savings
Considering code reusability, cross-platform applications are more time-saving. Fewer lines of code leave more time for other important tasks. Also, fewer lines of code leave less space for technical bugs. These nuances become crucial for the optimization of business operations.
3. Effective resource management
Creating separate applications isn’t cost-effective. Not all businesses have enough financial resources to cover their mobile development needs. With a single codebase, they can manage their resources effectively. Whether it comes to Android or iOS devices, businesses can try to benefit from using a shared code.
4. Attractive opportunities for developers
Mobile engineers apply modern cross-platform technologies as effective structural elements in a product’s technical potential. Repetitive tasks like JSON parsing shouldn’t be the problem anymore. At the same time, new technologies can encourage excitement, motivation, and entertainment for operational tasks. The availability of the modern tech stack can make the hiring process for your mobile team less stressful.
5. Opportunity to reach wider audiences
You don’t have to pick one of the available platforms. Instead, you can rely on most of them at once. Thanks to your app’s compatibility with operating systems, you can satisfy the needs of your audience using Android and iOS devices. Eventually, you will maximize your business reach.
6. Quicker time to market and customization
A single code running on multiple platforms has become an effective concept used by many businesses. This allows app developers to decrease the timeframes for Time-to-Market (TTM) through quick deployment. If the app needs to be upgraded, developers can proceed with primary and additional changes in a single code. Bringing products to the market faster than the closest competitors is crucial for improving customer engagement.
Conclusion
Mobile web development companies are known for their ability to create different apps for different platforms. Their products can run across numerous devices and platforms flawlessly. To achieve the best possible result, the right framework for cross-platform mobile web development is required. The latter is determined by the business and app’s functional requirements.
Mobile web development companies can help private businesses make well-informed decisions. So, before they request a mobile app development solution, they should be well-equipped with all the necessary information about app development.
