What is a native app?

Native app: definition

“Native” essentially means “at home”: the app speaks the language of its operating system. For iOS, development is usually done with Swift and the SwiftUI interface framework; for Android, with Kotlin and Jetpack Compose. Each platform therefore gets its own codebase.

The alternatives are web apps and progressive web apps, which run in the browser, and cross-platform apps, which are built from a shared codebase for multiple systems. Which option is right depends mainly on the features required and the budget.

How native app development works

Native apps are built with the manufacturers' official development environments—Xcode for Apple, Android Studio for Android. They use the system's programming interfaces to directly access the camera, GPS, Bluetooth, sensors, contacts, or biometric login.

Before publication, every app goes through the review process of the respective store. Data and logic are often also stored in a backend that the app communicates with via an API—for user accounts, syncing between devices, or push notifications, for example.

• iOS: Swift, SwiftUI, Xcode, distribution via the App Store
• Android: Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, Android Studio, distribution via Google Play
• Backend and API for accounts, data, and syncing

Benefits and limitations of native apps

Native apps offer the best performance and the tightest integration with the operating system. New system features are available right away, and controls feel exactly the way users are used to on their device.

The price: two platforms usually mean two codebases, two development tracks, and twice the testing effort. For many business applications, that is more than the use case requires.

• Top performance, e.g., for graphics, AR, or real-time features
• Full access to hardware and system features
• Platform-typical user experience
• Higher development and maintenance effort for two systems

Real-world example: when a native app makes sense

A manufacturer of measuring devices wants its customers to read out the devices via Bluetooth, analyze measurement series in charts, and export them as a report. Intensive hardware use and high stability requirements make a strong case for native development here.

For apps that consist mainly of forms, lists, and content, on the other hand, a cross-platform app or PWA is often more cost-effective. Nano Concepts offers technology-neutral advice on the right solution and supports development and publication in the app stores.