An application can be developed either native or on the web. While a native application needs to be installed and run on the device, a web application is placed on the web and runs through the browser. Both approaches have their own benefits and limitations. Native applications are fast, secure, and can access complete features of a device, and web applications are cost-effective, platform-independent(mostly), and don’t require downloading and updating.There was a need for the features of web applications that can be installed on mobile phones for better accessibility and greater features. So to leverage the features of both mobile applications and web applications, developers have come up with a hybrid application.
Table of Content:
- What is a Hybrid Mobile application?
- How do Hybrid Mobile Applications Work?
- How do Hybrid Mobile Applications Work?
- Benefits of hybrid mobile applications
- Limitations of hybrid mobile applications
- What is a Hybrid Mobile application?
A Hybrid Mobile Application Development, also called cross-platform mobile app development, is an approach to using paradigms of a web application with the potential of a native application. A hybrid mobile application is written on web technologies (HTML5, CSS, and javascript) but has the capability to use device resources such as a camera, microphone, etc. The core of the application is encapsulated in a native wrapper that works as a translator between the application and the device.Hybrid apps can be installed on the phones and are used as a native application that can use device resources and features to support tasks performed by the applications but is built in the frontend development technologies used to build a web application. The popular hybrid mobile application frameworks are React Native, Flutter, Ionic, Xamarin, etc.
How do Hybrid Mobile Applications Work?
The working of a hybrid application is clear in its definition. The application is written and built on the technologies and paradigms used to build web applications but is run on a mobile device. To run the application on a mobile device, the code is encapsulated in a wrapper that integrates applications with the device.
As hybrid applications are not dependent on the web browser to run, they have an inbuilt browser that is invisible to the user. These applications are run on these inbuilt browsers. This hybrid application is run inside a native container and uses a browser engine to render HTML5 and execute JavaScript.
The HTML5 code can be used on any mobile device and only the native wrapper has to be built for every platform, it saves significant development time.
Benefits of Hybrid Mobile Applications
- As a hybrid application has a single code base for separate platforms, it saves a significant development cost. Although plugins and native wrappers can add up to the original cost of development.
- A hybrid application saves development time by reusing the HTML5 code for different platforms.
- Hybrid applications provide a consistent experience to users on different platforms.
Limitations of hybrid mobile applications
- Hybrid applications are dependent on plugins to use device resources.
- These apps need to develop native wrappers that add up to the development costs.
- There is a requirement for high testing to make the environment consistent for different operating systems.
- It is complex for developers to build new plugins.
Hybrid Mobile Application vs Native Mobile Application
There are basic differences between the native mobile application and the hybrid mobile application. Both approaches have their own pros and cons. A hybrid mobile application saves hybrid mobile application development time and cost as it does not need to be developed separately for separate platforms. It provides a consistent experience to users on different devices so if the user switch device or operating system, it will not affect their experience on the application. The hybrid apps can be downloaded from the app store. As they use single code for multiple devices, providing updates also becomes easy.
The hybrid apps have dependencies on plugins to use the device resources. While using classic resources is not an issue, using a new resource whose plugin is not yet built can be difficult.
On contrary, a native application can be used without internet connectivity with all features. All the native applications are the versions of the operating system’s default applications and hence have a familiar feel that adds to the user experience. The native applications have fewer dependencies on plugins which simplifies the development process. With all the benefits, it takes more time and cost to develop a native application separately for all the platforms. It also needs a separate release cycle and updates for separate platforms.
Conclusion
Hybrid mobile applications have their own pros and cons. While developing an application, the purpose of building the application should be focused to decided whether it should be built native or hybrid. Some popular hybrid mobile applications examples are Gmail, Uber, Spotify, etc. All these applications are successful as it serves the purpose of a hybrid application.
FAQs
-
What is a hybrid mobile application?
Hybrid apps are essentially web apps that have been put in a native app shell. Once they are downloaded from an app store and installed locally, the shell is able to connect to whatever capabilities the mobile platform provides through a browser that's embedded in the app.
-
What is the difference between native app and hybrid app?
In short, native apps are exactly that, native to the user's OS and hence built per those guidelines. Hybrid applications are, at core, websites packaged into a native wrapper.
-
Why ERP is important to a company?
A fully integrated ERP system allows the seamless flow of information across different departments and functions. It also helps to streamline business processes and improve overall business functions.
