Hybrid App - Features, Usage, Advantages & Disadvantages
App developers know that sometimes it is difficult to develop the right app that meets all the client’s requirements. In recent years, therefore, the concept of the hybrid app has emerged, which allows the combination of native and web-based elements. In this article, we’ll explain what a hybrid app is, how it works, and why it’s revolutionizing app development.
What is a hybrid app?
A hybrid app is a combination of a native app and a web-based app. Users interact with native elements such as user interfaces, screens, and controls developed in an app environment. At the same time, web-based elements such as content, data and functions can be accessed via a web API.
This combination of the two development styles makes it possible to create user-friendly and powerful apps that work on both mobile and desktop platforms. This also means that you can develop an app that works on both iOS and Android without having to develop a separate app for each.
What is the difference between native apps and hybrid apps?
Native apps are developed for a specific platform (e.g. iOS or Android) and use their respective programming language and SDK. Hybrid apps, on the other hand, are developed using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and run in a wrapper app that can be used on multiple platforms.
A wrapper app is a type of hybrid app that is developed around a web app to run as a native application. Thus, the wrapper app acts as a container for the web app and provides access to certain device features and resources that are normally only available to native apps.
The web app itself runs inside the wrapper and can be accessed via an Internet connection. This makes it easier and less expensive to develop hybrid apps, since the same app can be used for multiple platforms.
Native apps offer better performance and access to device features. On the other hand, hybrid apps are easier and cheaper to develop.
Definition SDK:
SDK stands for “Software Development Kit” and refers to a collection of tools, libraries and documentation that developers can use to develop applications for a specific platform or technology.
An SDK often includes an integrated development environment, libraries, code samples, and documentation that make it easy for developers to create applications for a specific platform.
Where are hybrid apps predominantly used?
Hybrid apps are mainly used in mobile development to provide a consistent user experience across multiple platforms – for example, iOS, Android, or Windows Phone.
These 3 brands use a hybrid app
Instagram is a great example of a hybrid app because it allows users to share pictures and videos. It also constantly monitors user engagement. The application, which is one of the leading social media apps, is supported by HTML5. It can be used to manage offline data as well as rich media, such as the quick videos.
- Uber
Uber is another example of a hybrid app. Handling usually requires no special introduction, as the user interface is simple and intuitively merged with uncomplicated navigation. The app is quick to use on different devices and offers dynamic features to both Android and iOS users.
- Evernote
Evernote is not only a leading hybrid app, but also a coveted productivity app. In contrast to the competition, it scores with an appealing design and strong performance. At the same time, you can sync multiple devices with it, which makes the operation smoother.
What are the advantages of a hybrid app?
The advantages of a hybrid app can be summarized as follows:
- Cost-efficiency: Development for multiple platforms is done with only one codebase. About the codebase: This refers to the total set of source code used to develop an application. It contains all the files required to write the program, including programming language, frameworks, libraries, configuration files and test cases.
- Faster time-to-market: A hybrid app ensures faster release on multiple platforms simultaneously. This promotes competitiveness and leads to faster revenues, as monetization via the app can be triggered more nimbly through sales or advertising revenue.
- Consistent look and feel: It enables a consistent user experience across all platforms and strengthens the external communication of the brand.
- Access to Native APIs: The advantage of this access is a better use of the hardware through direct access to the APIs as well as additional functionalities such as: camera, GPS, contacts, calendar, etc.
- Native user experience: A web app offers the ability to provide a native user experience that users are accustomed to from other apps on the device, as well as integration with other apps.
- Easy maintainability: performing maintenance and updates across all platforms.
What are the disadvantages of a hybrid app?
The disadvantages of a hybrid app are:
- Limited performance: Performance may be affected by the dependency of a web view and limited access to hardware capabilities. In detail: the speed is slower, the graphics performance can be worse, it is possible that access to the camera, GPS, contacts, calendar, etc. is limited.
- Complicated debugging processes: Debugging difficulties can arise more easily due to conflicts between different platforms and technical stacks. In this context, debugging is very important to identify and fix bugs in the software.
- Platform compatibility: conflicts with different platforms and operating system versions are possible, which in turn affects performance.
- Limited user experience: This can result in the app not being as intuitive and native to use as a native app. Especially for an older target group, this can make it challenging to use the app.
- Dependence on third-party tools: Dependence on third-party tools and libraries creates more potential points of failure that threaten the stability or timeliness of the app.
- Complicated updates: Updating code can be more complicated due to conflicts with different platforms and technical stacks. Accordingly, corrections are more time-consuming and costly.
Conclusion – have hybrid app developed by NINE brackets GmbH
We have now told you everything you need to know about Hybrid Mobile Apps and clarified the difference between them and Native Apps. Now, if you are considering having an app programmed, ask yourself these questions in advance:
- What functionality does the app need to have?
- Which target group does the app address?
- What business goals are we pursuing with the app?
- What service must the app offer?
We will be happy to advise you in detail on these and other questions and decide together with you which app is right for you. By the way: For more than 10 years we have been implementing and developing software projects for small, large or medium-sized companies.
In doing so, we support and advise marketers & business consultants from a wide range of industries on digital challenges. In addition, we can support you in these areas with our know-how:
- Websites
- Online stores
- individual applications
- Marketing automation and digital tools
You would like to develop your app with us? Then call us at +49 (0) 89 / 2000 2018 or write us via our contact form for a non-binding get-to-know conversation. Would you like to know in advance who we have already worked with? Then please have a look at
our partners
at.