Currently, there is no universal approach for the software development sphere. There are various application development options to choose from: native, hybrid, and web-based. Among these opportunities, hybrid apps are the most preferable because they have numerous advantages. First and foremost, the app you create should correspond to the demands of your potential users. In our article, we look more closely at hybrid mobile application development and its advantages. It will be especially beneficial if you plan to work on such a project and need to learn more about it.
Native vs. Hybrid Mobile Apps
Let’s start by comparing native and hybrid applications and singling out their peculiarities.
Native apps
Native applications operate on platform-oriented programming languages such as Java and Objective-C. Such applications interact with a specific device’s functional capability and present a standard User Interface on numerous platforms. They have a stable connection with such device features as geolocation, camera, contact list, etc., and enable a seamless user experience and speedy performance. On the contrary, such apps require more time and resources to reach the market.
Hybrid apps
Their functionality is like in web applications, but they have native features and web view using the original browser of a device. If you want to know how to develop a hybrid mobile app, it is quite simple because you create the code only once. They are developed on specific frameworks that provide seamless interactions between the UI and the native functional capability. This is all possible because of the native API usage. They are mostly written in HTML, JavaScript, etc.
Benefits of Hybrid App Development
Every development type has certain pros and cons. Below are the 9 reasons why hybrid development is so popular among companies around the globe.
1. More Efficient User Experience
User experience is considered the most significant criterion for app developers. According to statistics, there are over 4.5 million applications available. With so many competitors in the application stores, developers must present flawless products to survive the severe competition and attract the most potential users. As a rule, web-based applications don’t offer a great user experience on all platforms. However, hybrid mobile apps are closer to native ones but with a simple backend structure. You can easily make changes and enhance the content for numerous platforms. The users of hybrid apps usually don’t notice a difference when they use various platforms. They are easier to create than native apps, without a drop off in functionality.
2. Speed
Speed is also important when developing an app. No matter how great the content is, nobody will utilize an app if it takes too much time to respond. That is one of the significant flaws of native apps. But hybrid ones provide an effective way out of this problem by delivering a seamless and rocket-speed experience. A lightweight user interface allows loading all the content, graphics, and even large images very quickly. Moreover, hybrid applications are quicker than web-based applications as they don’t rely on network interaction and deliver fast performance even when numerous users try to access it simultaneously.
3. Lower Cost
This is the most significant benefit of hybrid mobile app development. Developers don’t need to build a separate application for every single platform. Everything is created using a single codebase. This approach lets you save money, which is especially important for small enterprises on a budget.
4. Time-Saving
Along with saving money, you also optimize the process itself. This is especially important when you want to deliver an MVP to the market faster than your competitors. Hybrid applications take less time to go to market. Moreover, you present your app on various app stores simultaneously, which allows you to cover more users right away. It is the best choice for your business if you are a small startup.
5. Simplified Maintenance
The teams spend less energy and time on making updates or releasing new versions. Hybrid apps aren’t connected to versions. It is similar to how web pages upgrade instantly. This saves your team time and energy during the post-launch period.
6. Great UI/UX design
Hybrid mobile app developers say there are numerous opportunities to build a native-like UI across multiple platforms. Such applications operate on any platform without compromise and look almost the same. Users don’t deal with the load issues even when using an app on different operating systems. It engages the maximum users on the leading platforms like Android or iOS.
7. Smooth integration with other apps
Native apps lack interaction with other applications. But hybrid ones don’t deal with such problems, making inter-app integration a substantial benefit of hybrid development. They connect with the environment of the device system so seamlessly that users don’t experience any issues with its connectivity.
8. Offline Support
Hybrid applications also utilize API to store the necessary data offline. This means the users can save on data-related costs. You should keep in mind that some devices don’t have great connectivity or the convenience of utilizing an app offline. So it will significantly boost usability. This is an important feature for those users who have limited network connections, etc.
9. Space for creativity
When it comes to functionality, hybrid applications attempt to get as close as possible to native ones. They are elaborate and possess a great functionality combined with the OS. And all without any additional expenses. Developers can come up with more outstanding ideas and draw the attention of a target audience.
Summing up
Developing a hybrid mobile app is an excellent opportunity in today’s market. We hope our article gave you more insight into the benefits of this development type.
Cover Photo by Daniel Korpai on Unsplash