A react native app – is it the right fit for all businesses?

Budding appreneurs and startup enthusiasts who wish to create an app for the company are probably wondering what a native app is. It would be wise for them to understand the pros and cons of such. If they need help in understanding them, they shouldn’t be afraid to ask for such.

The global mobile app market is growing exponentially and by the year 2026, its value is projected to reach USD$ 407.31 billion. Staggering, right?

Those who are not in the market and who are not making apps, can now start considering making apps either freelance or by starting their own small scale app development business and eventually growing it (if they wish to).

In all honesty, an app can do so much for the business.

A mobile app is a channel that can be used to engage customers and boost loyalty. They can personalize interactions and reach customers in real-time. Given the simplicity and convenience of apps, businesses and app owners thus have the chance to raise revenue.

These are just a handful of ways an app can benefit the business.

However, if all this irked anybody’s interest, they are most probably wondering where to start. This is also one of the first questions most entrepreneurs and budding startup enthusiasts will be pondering upon the kind of app that will be best for their business.

Hence, experts from a Hamilton-based mobile app development company have decided to put together a brief guide on native apps and the alternatives needed to help them make a well-placed decision without any regrets.

Native apps – what are they?

A native app is an app that has been created using the native framework for a specific mobile operating system. App developers create native apps within the specific Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for the given Operating System without needing any additional third-party libraries.

By developing an app for one operating system, developers can ensure optimal performance. They carry this out through the creation of the best and in-class interface modules and through optimization of user experience for the platform in use.

What characteristics do Native Apps have?

Let us now take a look at some of the features and characteristics making native apps stand out amongst many others:

  • WHen it comes to performance, native apps are highly responsive, are reliable and are faster in comparison to alternative options.
  • In terms of security, there are likely to be fewer platform-specific vulnerabilities.
  • When it comes to User Interface and User Experience, Native apps conform to conventions of the platform in spotlight, hence making them user-friendly on another new level.
  • In terms of availability of features, React native apps can utilize native device features without boundaries.
  • In terms of maturity, native mobile apps benefit from the presence of the most sophisticated architecture and advanced features for the operating system in the spotlight.

The only con is the need to create multiple versions of the app that can work easily on different operating systems. This might require more resources and a higher development cost.

How are Native apps created?

Professional app developers use different sets of interface elements and development tools according to the operating system the app is being built for.

The two main centres for creating apps are Android Studio for Android Apps and Xcode for iOS apps (Apple’s apps that is). These tools allow developers to create an app that will work well on a specific platform much more effectively.

Each Operating System supports various programming languages. Java is the traditional programming language used for developing Android apps. However, in 2017 Google approved Kotlin and now it has become the mainstay of app development in Android. It has become quite popular among developers as not just a cleaner but also as a modern programming language.

iOS developers mostly use Swift nowadays for the same reasons as above. It is also easy for iOS app developers to work with Swift in comparison to Apple’s traditional programming language, Objective-C.

What are the alternatives to Native Apps?

Before aspiring app developers can even enter the app development field testing various app ideas, here are some alternatives to native apps they can check without issue:

  • Progressive web apps are built for and delivered through the web using HTML5, CSS and JavaScript. They are quite similar to a website but incorporate a bit of tweaks in the User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX) so they can be easily used on mobile devices.
  • Hybrid apps are made when developers use a unified application programming interface (API) to create a mobile application with the same codebase for both Android and iOS.