What Are Hybrid Apps for Mobile?
August 06, 2022
A hybrid application is an that runs on a device like any other. The main difference from mobile web apps is that hybrid apps load very quickly and are more secure than mobile websites.
While a company needs to make changes to an existing website to create a mobile application, a hybrid app's front-end is built with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The backend consists of an SDK that facilitates communication between the Android APIs and the application's front-end components.
The major advantage of hybrid mobile apps is that they allow software development companies to create functional and standalone mobile apps faster than apps built from scratch using native tools.
How Do Hybrid Apps Work?
Hybrid apps are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They are then deployed in a native container that uses a mobile WebView object. The WebView object is an embedded browser window within a native application that runs the HTML code in full-screen mode.
This allows them to access native device functions (camera, GPS) and limits their ability to access advanced graphics and animations. Hybrid apps support offline functionality via local storage, but not all hybrid apps provide this functionality.
A native API bridge enables interaction between JavaScript code running in the web view and native platform code.
Although there are many commercially available bridges, they all work similarly: they expose native platform functionality as an API that can be called from JavaScript. They expose a JavaScript API that can be called from native code.
Hybrid Apps Features
Hybrid apps are the kind of apps you can download to your phone, but unlike native apps, they're not limited by platform—they're compatible with all operating systems.
Hybrid applications features include:
- A single code base for multiple platforms (iOS, Android, and Windows Phone).
- Whether the device is connected or not, it continues to function.
- Native functionalities (camera, GPS, contacts) through plugins.
- Access to dynamic online content is improved through an embedded browser.
- Sending push notifications on iOS and Android.
- Indexing the application on App Store and Google Play.
- Publishing the application on App Store and Google Play.
Benefits of Hybrid Apps
Hybrid apps offer a certain number of advantages:
Cross-platform compatibility:
Hybrid apps can be used on Android and iOS, and they can be easily ported to other platforms.
Faster time to market:
Since there is no need for multiple development teams, the development process is faster and less expensive, resulting in a quicker market time.
Instant updates:
Updates are extremely important for mobile apps, both security and user experience. With hybrid apps, updates are distributed instantly across all platforms.
NO app store limitation:
Hybrid apps can be a great way to build your app without dealing with the limitations of the Apple App Store.
Therefore, hybrid apps offer developers who wish to update their apps frequently a significant advantage since the changes that did not touch native coding do not need to be resubmitted.
Less Development costs:
Hybrid apps are the solution for businesses who want to develop one code base for iOS and Android platforms.
Compared with native apps, which require iOS and Android development, the code is only written once, reducing development time and cost.
The switch to hybrid apps is inevitable, and we're here to help you make the transition as smooth as possible.
Drawbacks of Hybrid Apps
- Slower performance than native apps
- Less access to device features
- Not ideal for complex applications
Summary
As mobile app development for businesses continues to grow and thrive, there are many advantages to the hybrid option.
In addition to the speed and security benefits, businesses have seen improved interaction with clients and staff, more accessible updates, and much more.
Ultimately, it's clear that hybrid apps are a better choice for many businesses as they seek to tap into the popularity of both apps and websites while enjoying the benefits of both as well.