What is a Native App?
So what is A Native App and the benefits that they bring to mobile development? For those of you who do not know, A Native App is a web application written in Java or any other object oriented programming language that runs on the Android platform. What this means is that this app can be a widget, a browser, a badge etc. Basically it is a unique combination of technology that provides the ability to run your own app without being dependent upon another program like an Android app.
As with any application development, the basic concept lies in creating an app that has the ability to run on the platform of the developer. This is achieved through a process called Portable Native Application (PNA). There are many different tools and frameworks that can be used for developing a native app. But there are certain things that must be taken into consideration before choosing a particular tool or framework. For instance:
What are a native app and what does it provide? First and foremost, a native app is a program that runs on the Android platform and thus cannot be executed on iOS or Windows Phone. This basically means that the app cannot be shared across multiple devices. Similarly, a native app cannot have any third party applications and hence is limited to the set of devices that it can run on.
On the other hand, there is a bridge program called Native Client which enables the developer to create a mobile app using the Objective-C language. The native app uses the native platform’s features such as the interface, the file system, and the text-format of the program to communicate with the server. This enables the developer to share various data and other functionality with the mobile app users. On the other hand, there is the hybrid mobile app platform that is a mixture of a native app and a web browser for the same program. The hybrid apps run in the browser using a JavaScript engine. However, there is no compatibility between the web browser and the native app on the devices.
So, what is the use of such apps? Well, developers often use them to launch their desktop and laptop applications from their desktops and laptops. They can access these apps from anywhere, be it on a travel route or a hotel bed. Further, they can also access these apps on the go by hooking up their phones to the Wi-Fi network on the move. Developers can also use such platforms to create hybrid mobile/native apps that are compatible across multiple platforms and devices.
So what is a native app, then, if it is not a web-based app? The answer is simple: it is nothing but an application written in C++ for use on iOS and Android platforms. Nowadays, many companies offering mobile application development services offer a comprehensive package that includes both the native app and the cross-platform mobile app development tools. The developers just need to choose the right tool from among the many available options.
If you are wondering what to look for while hiring a company for your app requirements, then you should consider several factors. You should first see how many native apps the company has developed. Secondly, you should check whether the company develops apps for popular or established brands. Cross-platform mobile app development tools offered by the company should be top-notch. And finally, you should see if the company offers a detailed list of features that their native app offers as compared to a cross-platform mobile app.
What is a native app? The term is more of an organizational concept than a legal one. In most cases, a native app is an application that has been written in C++ using the programming language Objective C or Cocoa. Today, a lot of companies offering mobile app development services offer apps that are native in nature. These include iPhone and iPad apps, Android apps, Windows and Symbian apps and Flash-based games.
