What is mobile application development?

Today, we have moved from a non-technological world to a place where technology rules all over the world. The presence of technology is felt in every form. A time when people used fewer gadgets, has become past now and a time has come when all the generations have started to rely on gadgets for everything. The one gadget that everyone truly depends on is be mobile phones. This has become an important part of everyday life. From communication to shopping, to work and to entertainment, we completely depend upon this amazing invention.

Since we all rely on smartphones a lot, they have also become a major part of business as well. Smartphones have become a huge part of mobile app development, making way for businesses and developers to reach a vast consumer base. As there is a huge demand for high-quality mobile apps from the consumer side, it is indeed important to develop high-quality and user-friendly mobile applications.

Mobile app development is diverse, consisting of various types of applications that will meet the needs of different users. For example, one of the popular mobile app development in Kochi, Inter Smart provides various app designs such as hybrid, native, progressive web apps and encapsulated apps.

In this blog, “What is mobile application development?” we are going to discuss in detail the various types of mobile app development, the development process and which one will be right for you to use.

Let’s learn about mobile application development

So, what exactly is mobile application development? In simple words, mobile application is the process of building software for smartphones, tablets and virtual assistants, mostly Android and iOS.

In this process, everything includes the creation of the release of the app, creating backend services via APIs, and testing the app on target devices. Java, Swift, C# and HTML5 are the programming and markup languages used for this kind of software development. 

Like web application development, mobile applications have their own way of traditional software development. However the major difference between them is that mobile apps are often made specifically for a unique feature of a particular mobile device. For example, an application made for gaming might take more advantage of the iPhone’s accelerometer. Or a mobile health app will be taking advantage of a smartwatch’s temperature sensor. 

Nowadays, apps are a mandatory part of each business. Games, music, calendars, messaging apps, supermarkets, bank accounts, say what not, for anything and everything mobile apps will be there. When consumer’s first easy way to get information is phones, it’s never a waste to build apps. 

To build well-developed mobile applications, all you need is to follow a few basic guidelines and some practices that are efficient. In the next session, we will elaborate in detail on the process of mobile app development.

The development process of mobile applications 

To start with the mobile development phase, there are a few technical architectures to look after:

In the Technical layer, there are three layers to consider:

Presentation Layer

The presentation layer encompasses the part of the application that users engage with directly. It comprises the user interface and all components that contribute to the overall user experience, ensuring intuitive interaction and visual appeal.

Business Layer

The business layer is responsible for the underlying logic that orchestrates workflows, facilitates data exchange, and manages operational processes. This layer addresses essential functionalities of the mobile application, including security protocols, data caching, logging mechanisms, and handling exceptions.

Data Layer

The data layer is tasked with meeting the application’s data-related needs, offering data management tools, access components, and service agents. It plays a crucial role in validating and maintaining data integrity while supporting data transactions within the application.

Technology Stack

The technology stack, often referred to as the tech stack, consists of three main components. These components reflect the specific technologies selected to construct and support the application rather than serve as guidelines for its development.

Front End

Aligned closely with the presentation layer, the front end of the mobile application is developed using various tools and programming languages tailored to the target devices. The selection of these technologies is heavily influenced by the native languages supported by the specific mobile platforms.

Back End

The back end comprises the application’s server-side elements, including the database and related components that facilitate the mobile app’s operations. Unlike front-end development, teams have greater flexibility in selecting back-end technologies, often utilizing pre-existing solutions to streamline the development process.

API

The API serves as a conduit for communication between the front end and back end of the application. It allows for seamless interaction and integration with other applications and services, enhancing the overall functionality and interoperability of the mobile app.

Different types of mobile applications 

There are different types of mobile apps to choose from when it comes to developing applications for mobile devices. These kinds of applications will tell us how the app will be built and not how users can use the app. 

Native apps:  These are specific to a certain device or platform such as Android or iOS. Native apps have full access to all the features and hardware they are operating on.

Cross-platform apps: Cross-platform applications enable teams to develop in various languages and frameworks, compiling the code for multiple operating systems using tools like Xamarin. This approach allows significant code reuse across devices, though it requires additional effort compared to single-platform development.

Progressive web apps: Progressive web applications are the ones which run in mobile browsers and are usually built using JavaScript, CSS, and HTML5. The ability to push notifications, better touch gestures, and hardware interaction is what makes web apps progressive.

Hybrid apps: Hybrid apps are a combination of native applications and progressive web apps, performing as native containers for web applications. This enables access to device features while maintaining a unified codebase, though their performance often falls short compared to purely native apps.

Which is the right mobile app to build? 

Now, how to understand which type of mobile application you should choose? This can purely depend upon understanding who the user will be and what they will be expecting out of it. For example, if you are completely relying on one type of mobile device or operating system, you can go for native apps. if your users are members of your business or organization, you needn’t apply progressive web apps.

This blog intends to give you an overview of mobile application development. Once you have read this blog, you will gain some information on it. If you are looking for a good mobile app development in Kochi, you can connect with Inter Smart. We will guide you through all your clarifications and will build a perfect app as per your requirements.