An app is short form of a term called "application," it is basically a type of software that can be installed and run on a computer, tablet, Smartphone or other electronic devices. An app is simply a piece of software that you can get access to and use through the internet. A mobile application, also referred to as a mobile app or simply an app, is a computer program or software application designed to run on a mobile device such as a phone, tablet, or watch.
Many apps are also available for mobile devices and even for TVs. We will discuss about it in a more elaborative manner in coming heads of the unit, some are useful for desktop and some are useful for Mobile.
Classification of Apps
Mobile applications may be classified by numerous methods. A common scheme is to distinguish native, hybrid, and web-based apps. A brief about all these is give below:
1. Native Apps: Native apps are developed for their particular platform, taking full advantage of the software and the operating systems' features. These apps can directly access the hardware of the device such as the GPS, camera, microphone, etc. so they are faster in execution, which ultimately results in better user experience. All apps targeted toward a particular mobile platform are known as native apps. Therefore, an app intended for Apple device does not run in Android devices. As a result, most businesses develop apps for multiple platforms. While developing native apps, professionals incorporate best-in-class user interface modules. This accounts for better performance, consistency and good user experience. Users also benefit from wider access to application programming interfaces and make limitless use of all apps from the particular device. Further, they also switch over from one app to another effortlessly. The main purpose for creating such apps is to ensure best performance for a specific mobile operating system.
2. Hybrid Apps: The concept of the hybrid app is a mix of native and web-based apps. Apps developed using Apache Cordova, Xamarin, React Native, Sencha Touch and other similar technology fall into this category. These are made to support web and native technologies across multiple platforms. Moreover, these apps are easier and faster to develop. It involves use of single code base which works in multiple mobile operating systems. Despite such advantages, hybrid apps exhibit lower performance. Often, apps fail to bear the same look-and-feel in different mobile operating systems.
3. Web-based Apps:Web-based applications are a particular type of software that allows users to interact with a remote server through a web browser interface. It works on any browser whether it is chrome, opera or Samsung internet browser and the users are not obliged to download from the app store. These apps have seen a huge increase in popularity in recent years, replacing desktop applications and becoming a crucial instrument for small and large businesses around the world. A web-based app is coded in HTML5, CSS or JavaScript. Internet access is required for proper behaviour and user-experience of this group of apps. These apps may capture minimum memory space in user devices compared to native and hybrid apps. Since all the personal databases are saved on the Internet servers, users can fetch their desired data from any device through the Internet.
