With the growing number of mobile devices, the need to develop applications for Android and iOS is increasing. Every day, hundreds of mobile applications are created to make working with a mobile device more comfortable. There are several types of applications that developers use.
There are 3 types of apps:
1. Native apps
iOS on Objective-C or Swift
Android on Java
Windows Phone on Net
2. Hybrid apps for all platforms altogether with Xamarin, React Native, Ionic, Angular Mobile Sencha Touch etc.
3. Web apps as responsive versions of the website to work on any mobile device.
Native apps
This is the most common type of application. They are created based on programming languages for operating systems such as Android, Windows Phone, and iOS. Thanks to such applications, you can fully use the functionality of GPS, video cameras, or acceleration sensors. The main advantage of native applications is the ability to work offline without the need for an Internet connection. Most often, applications of this type are distributed through the app stores Play Market, AppStore, and others. Native applications can also be various electronic libraries.
Web applications and mobile site version
This type of application uses WEB technology to be able to work on a mobile device. The main and undoubted advantage of such applications is the possibility of one-time creation on all types of platforms. Also, the mobile version of the site has a significant advantage – cross-platform. However, of the minuses, it is worth noting that such applications do not allow you to use the camera or geolocation functions in a smartphone, and they cannot be downloaded from the application store.
Hybrid applications
Android programming simply cannot work without hybrid applications. They are connected to native and web applications. The main advantages of hybrid applications are cross-platform on web-technologies and the ability to access the functions of a smartphone or other mobile device. Although it is worth noting that the development of applications for iOS hybrid type is much more expensive than the development of other types of applications. Many popular social networks have their own hybrid applications, which can be freely downloaded from the online store.
As for mobile applications, everything is very simple. Almost all mobile platforms have an app store where the user can find and download the ones he needs: free, shareware, and paid. They are accessible from the mobile device itself. You can also plan to download the application remotely (via a computer) from the app store’s website: it will just start when you get access to your attached mobile gadget.
App Goals
Depending on the destination, there are such types of mobile applications:
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Corporate With their help, work is organized within the team.
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Business applications. Serve for sales and promotion of goods.
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Promo They are small creative programs. For example, such an application can simulate a fireplace or a lighter. With skillful development, promotional applications can act as advertisements.
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Content This is a kind of “opener program.” For example, audio, video players, applications for reading books and viewing photos.
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Entertaining. Among them are games, practical jokes, virtual musical instruments, means for creating collages, and others.
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Communication. Communication applications such as Skype, Viber, ICQ.
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Social. Social network applications.
The classification is not static, it can be expanded. Separately, it is worth mentioning the recently popular complex types of mobile applications with augmented reality. When this application is launched, non-existent objects appear on the gadget screen along with real surrounding objects. An example of such a popular entertainment application is Pokemon Go.
By Anisha Willis
