There are different types of mobile applications depending on how they have been created from a technological point of view.
Mobile applications are presented as software tools that have been developed to run from an intelligent mobile device, tablet or another model. As specified in previous lines, not all mobile applications have the same characteristics or are of the same type.
Advantages and disadvantages of mobile applications
The different existing mobile applications have a number of advantages and disadvantages that we cannot ignore.
Web App
Do not get confused with the word “app” here.
Web applications also called web apps are the ones developed using a type of computer development languages such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and a framework for the creation of apps such as jquery mobile, Kendo UI or Sencha, among many others.
To provide access to information from any device, these types of tools are widely used. Web apps can be accessed via web browsers such as Chrome, Safari or Firefox, regardless of the operating system, or device. And they do not require any type of approval for publication.
As a disadvantage, they do not use the resources of the system or the device optimally. And these apps cannot be published on platforms for distribution.
You are already using many web applications in your day to day life but may not be knowing what exactly you are using. The mobile web versions of Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, and many other sites you are nothing but web apps.
Native Applications
Native apps, on the other hand, are those developed under a specific development language and environment, which will help make their operation even more fluid and stable for the operating system for which it was created.
In addition to using both system and hardware resources, it can be published in app stores for later distribution. The vast majority of them do not need to be connected to the Internet for their operation.
Among the drawbacks, it should be noted that they require a cost of distribution in-store and approval to be published on the platform. All this not to mention that they can only be used by a device that has the ideal system for which it was created.
E.g. of native mobile applications are Whatsapp, Instagram, and many more used every day by millions of users.
Hybrid Mobile Applications
This type of tool is known as a combination of the above two features. This kind of applications are created using web development languages and a dedicated framework for the creation of this type of apps such as PhoneGap, Steroids or titanium appcelerator.
One of the main advantages of this type of apps is that they do not require a specific environment for their development and that the vast majority of them are free to use. Besides being multiplatform, they can be distributed through the stores of their respective platforms.
Examples of hybrid apps are Amazon Appstore, Evernote, Apple App Store, Khan Academy, Uber.
Here are some great tips to help you get started.
https://www.toptal.com/mobile/native-vs-hybrid-apps-pros-and-cons
