3 good reasons to create a native mobile application

Blog_3-motivos-para-uma-app-mobile-nativa

Do you have an idea for an app or does your project need to make the leap to also include a mobile application? There are many factors to take into account when the time comes to start developing an app and one of those decisions is: what kind of development? Here are 3 good reasons to invest in the creation of a native mobile application.

3 types of development for creating an app

  1. Native Apps: a native mobile application is an app that has been developed to be used on a specific platform or device (iOS or Android), using the development tools and language corresponding to those that support the system in question. A native app can thus interact and take advantage of the features of the operating system itself, as well as other software that is installed on this platform, which makes this a great option.
  2. HTML5 Apps: these mobile applications are typically developed using basic technology tools like HTML5, JavaScript and CSS. This means that these apps work on multiple platforms, but with some limitations – such as access to the mobile device’s native features (calendar, camera, geolocation...), session management, secure offline storage, among others. 
  3. Hybrid Apps: just as its name implies, the development of hybrid mobile applications allows the addition of features from both native apps and HTML5 apps and this includes, of course, the more positive aspects, as well as the less positive aspects associated to each one.

Why create a native app?

When creating an app or outsourcing this service to specialists, there are several important decisions to be made and one of them is related to the way the app will be developed. Compared with hybrid apps and HTML5 apps, native apps win in such crucial areas as visualization, performance and utilization.

1. Technological compatibility

Once the app is designed specifically for the operating system of the device in question, a native app not only has the ability to use that specific hardware and software, but is also able to take advantage of the latest technology of its own mobile devices. In addition to maintaining the list of contacts updated, it is possible to synchronize with the global positioning system (GPS), the camera and the calendar, etc.

2. Speed

If we listen to app users, one of the most frequent complaints is related to their performance in terms of speed. Since they have direct access to the device’s operating system – and have been programmed in the device’s native language – native apps are much faster than non-native apps.

3. User Experience

Since they are developed according to the device’s native language, native apps are not only more visually appealing, but they also promote a more consistent experience with the operating system and with other existing apps on the platform... and the user loves this!

The Facebook example

The success of the world's largest social network, Facebook, is highlighted by many tests and experiments, some of which failed. An example of this happened precisely with the app for mobile devices, as revealed by the founder himself, Mark Zuckerberg, during a conference in the United States: "We have made several missteps. The biggest mistake we made as a company was relying too heavily on HTML5 instead of native... We wasted two years. ". According to Facebook’s CEO, success was achieved only after they adopted native code for both iOS and Android.