Before getting entangled in this deranging dog fight, we might as well get to know the difference between these two types of apps. To be precise, a native app is one that has been installed directly onto your Smartphone and can usually function without any internet connectivity. A web app, on the other hand, functions via a web browser on your Smartphone, yet needs a cell signal or Wi-Fi to perform properly.
As earlier said, a native app can function without depending on the web, even though most are collecting info or function from the web in some form or the other. You may call it some kind of ‘behind the scene’ effect on part of the native app that presents web content within itself sans the browser. Also, it can work faster by way of leveraging the power of the processor and can straightaway access well-defined hardware such as GPS. As for the web app, it is embedded with the kismet of being used on sundry devices; so long it has a web browser and an internet connection. However, in contrast to the native app, it must have internet connection, while its operational speeds are linked to the quality of cell signals or the speed of the Wi-Fi broadband you are connected to.Even though some of the features of native app and web app have been discussed above, you still need to compare each one to figure out which app will better suit your purposes. Please read on to know more about it.
User Interface
When viewed in the light of mobile device users, many native as well as Web apps look and function similarly, with minor difference between them. However, the underlying factor behind the choice between these two types of apps depends on whether to develop a user-centric app or an application-centric app. Sensing this dual-purpose apps requirement, some companies develop both native and Web apps, thus widening the reach of their apps, while t the same time providing better overall user experience.
App Development Process
The course taken during the app development process of these two types of apps also distinguishes them from each other, as will be evident from the following issues.
- Each and every mobile platform the native app is developed for has its own unique development process and therefore creates no problem. On the other hand, Web apps running on a mobile device’s web browser runs into problem since the devices themselves are credited with unique features that often create unique problems.
- As a matter of routine, every mobile platform uses its own native programming language. For instance, iOS uses Objective-C, Android uses Java, Windows Mobile uses C++, etc. Contrastingly, Web apps use languages that include JavaScript, HTML5, CSS3 or other web application framework, depending mostly on the developer’s preferences.
- As for the native apps, each mobile platform offers the developer its own regularized SDK, development tools, as well as other user interface tools with which they can develop their native app easily and well. But for Web app, there is hardly any standardization, while the developer has neither any access to SDKs or tools to work with. However, there are quite a few tools and framework that are available to the developer with the help of which they can create apps to multiple mobile platforms and web browsers.
Build Your Own Web App With DIY Tool
In your effort to create your own Web app, you may find KNACK as an interesting platform. While so many companies in the data space zero in on commonplace “Big Data” solutions, Knack has created something which is a cross between Filemaker Pro and Caspio for small data. They describe themselves as a way to build simple web apps. The DIY tool is focused on building web apps that work with your data. The platform also includes certain functionalities such as search, custom forms and data display. The cloud service can be easily integrated in your website via a Javascript or web API.