The evolution of Smartphones has introduced mobile applications as a harmonious whole. Ever since its emergence, the mobile application development has amazingly gathered the attention of innumerable developers across the world.
Today, we have myriads of mobile applications in the app stores that are used by the consumers to perform high end complex or day-to-day activities with a flair. Observing their growing popularity, it can be said that mobile is dominant in every way.
For the folks, who want to develop an application either for promoting their businesses or increasing their productivity, it is essential to thoroughly research. Since, developing a mobile application is not an easy task, it is advisable to perform elaborate research and planning before diving into the development process. An application development requires several processes including,
• Basic idea of app,
• Creating a plan for app,
• Defining the app design,
• Developing the app using programming language and other development tools,
• Testing the app for bugs and other vulnerabilities,
• After executing all these steps successfully, the developed application is deployed over suitable mobile devices.
Is there something missing? Yes, the most important thing that is needed to be decided even before executing any of the above-mentioned application development stages, and it is to choose between a native app or web app for defining an approach for creating and deploying the application.
Native Application: These are specifically designed for a particular mobile device. Users can download it from the dedicated app store like Google Play store for Android applications and Apple App Store for iOS applications.
Mobile Web Application: these Internet-enabled apps run in the device’s web browser. Users can execute these applications without downloading them on their mobile devices.
Let’s ponder into the benefits and pitfalls of both native and web app; and consider their behavior under certain factors.
1. How the rapidly increasing diverse mobile devices can affect your choice
If we consider the mobile platforms, obviously the native applications will be a preferable choice. The development factors would be user interface fluency, screen size, touch gestures and more. Those who are interested in creating an Android or iOS application are advised to get their hands on the Java or Objective-C respectively. The upcoming Samsung Tizen platform will allow one to develop an app in HTML5.
Choosing between the two options of web or native primarily depends on your requirements. For instance, there is no need of creating a native location based application for a mobile platform, when you already have one that identifies and indicates the empty parking spots.
Hence, it can be said that instead of treating the web apps and native apps as a counterpart, developers must reap the benefits of both the approaches by integrating the functionalities of both into one software. For example, Facebook offers an app to its users for a convenient access and facilitates mobile users including (iOS, Windows Phones, and Android) with Facebook Messenger and other mobile apps for enhanced mobile experience.
2. Which one offers more accessibility
Both Native and web applications have different kind of accessibility. If we consider web application, it will integrate only limited native features of a device and it can be accessed in a browser on a mobile device, whereas native applications are standalone entity, which are completely compatible with the native features and hardware of a mobile device. However, unlike web applications that get updated on its own, users are required to update their native applications from time to time. Thus, both of them have some pros and cons, it’s hard to choose one until you streamline your application requirements.
3. What about the programming language
With numerous mobile OS there are several programming languages that are implemented by developers like C#, C/C++, Java, Objective-C and a lot more. Developers can learn the desirable languages and create a suitable app as per their desire. Though, some developers may conveniently work over different platforms with appropriate languages, but for many of them learning a new programming language could be a daunting task. Thus, it would be tough for them to upgrade the OS by learning a new API with each update. Hence, it is better to rather create a web application deploying JavaScript, CSS and HTML5 to reach a wider consumer base.
However, if we go by the current trends that states the Android (first) and iOS (second)as the top two market share holders, we can make a choice. Since, the new Apple Swift (programming language for iOS) and the latest Google ART (Android runtime, that replaces Dalvik) are much similar to each other, developing while focusing on a particular platform would be a viable choice.
4. Which one offers more lucrative solutions
Monetizing an application can offer lucrative solutions. It has been observed that monetization in native apps is a bit hard thing to achieve, as some mobile devices may impose certain limits on mobile ad networks and platforms. On the contrary, the web applications facilitate app monetization in multiple ways like, by charging users some membership fee, offering numerous methods for advertisements and more. However, with native applications all the revenue and commissions are handled by the appropriate app store, whereas with the web applications, you will need to create your very own payment system, which will add to your cost of development.
Choosing an option between native or web application is a never ending debate. Both the approaches offer merits and demerits, and the decision is completely up to you. You can consider your business requirements while making the choice and streamline your options efficiently and create a better and lucrative solution.
About the Author
Lucie Kruger is an eminent Senior Content Editor and IT consultant for Mobiers Ltd, a mobile application developement company. You can avail Mobile Applications Developer for hire by getting her best consultations.