Mobile apps have become a critical aspect of businesses today. And for businesses to run smoothly across platforms, it is important that cross-platform app development should always be given priority. Cross-platform development has both pros and cons of its own. Let’s have a detailed discussion on both these aspects.
The growing demand for mobile apps has created a buzz in the industry today.
For every specific requirement, users need an app to serve them. Businesses, on the other hand, do need these applications in order to reach to the users in the most hassle-free manner possible.
Talking specifically about developing apps for businesses, cross-platform mobile apps are the best choice among all.
Let’s understand in detail what cross-platform development has to offer to a business along with its pros and cons. But first, lets start with what this process is all about.
What is Cross-Platform App Development
Cross-platform app development refers to a software development approach that enables apps to run on both major app operating systems i.e. Android and iOS.
This approach ensures that a single codebase is enough to run an app on both operating systems, which saves the development time and ensures scalability of the developed application.
The top-notch cross-platform frameworks that every cross-platform app development company offers services for are:
React Native
Node.js
Xamarin
Flutter
Ionic, and
Apache Cordova
Which platform would suit an app’s requirement the best is generally determined by the features required to a particular application.
Pros of Cross-Platform App Development
Quick Development
As cross-platform uses single code base to run on any of the platforms, it becomes much easier for cross-platform app development companies to fasten the development time and reduce the turnaround time significantly. With cross-platform development, it is easier to use again a part of any code between different platforms, which ultimately lowers the development time.
Consistency Between Platforms
In terms of navigation and design, both Android and iOS differ in their approaches. However, when it comes to cross-platform mobile apps the differences in UI are taken care of by default. Cross-platform development allows coherent brand identity owing to the same codebase.
Cater to a Wider Audience Base
Since, cross-platform leverages single code-base development, the apps can easily cater to a wider audience base. As the app remains compatible to majority of platforms, users from different OS can access these applications.
Cost-friendly Development
Creating separate applications is expensive. However, with cross-platform development, there is no need to write different codes in order to run your app on different platforms. This saves time as well as the development cost of cross-platform mobile apps to a greater extent. Moreover, with such a development approach the app reach is easy to maximize.
Cons of Cross-Platform App Development
- Tough Code Structure
Cross-platform apps have to adhere to specific devices and platforms as well. This may create differences sometimes as the design and the functionality of the app are supposed to suit specific platform. To keep things aligned cross-platform app development company need to handle the code structure in a way so that differences do not occur.
- Decreased Performance
Comparing a cross-platform application with a native app in terms of performance, the later will have a better approach. Even if the app functionalities are same, native apps will always perform slightly better.
- New Updates Take Time
Every time Google and App Store release new features, it takes time for cross-platform apps to accommodate these designs. This is not a concern with native apps.
- Limited User Experience
Cross-platform mobile apps are not efficient enough to benefit from native-only features, resulting in a limited user experience. Owing to the difference in functionality and design, experience for the users gets limited.
The Bottom Line
Cross-platform mobile apps development solutions are great as they significantly reduce the development time and effort. However, there are some limitations, which easily fade away in comparison to the benefits they offer.
However, it is always advised to consider the business requirement first before finalizing the app development platform. The chosen platform must suit the specific requirements of the business in the most efficient way.
IDS Logic Pvt Ltd 