Mobile Applications: Examples and Types

Because of the rise of mobile computing devices such as smartphones and tablets, mobile application development has become increasingly popular among company owners worldwide. Mobile applications are a growing industry that is drawing enterprises from all over the world. According to projections, mobile app sales would reach $600 billion by 2020.

Having smartphones, laptops, desktop PCs, smart TVs, and other high-tech items indicates that we live in an inventive environment where mobile users can download mobile applications with a single click. Everyone has the tremendous fortune of being born into a world dominated by science and technology.

Because of the advancement of technology, we can now benefit from applications and improve our lives in a variety of ways. Apps are often used by both large and small organizations to boost efficiency and productivity.

What is Mobile Application?

A mobile application , sometimes referred to as a Mobile app, is the ideal option for software that can operate on a mobile phone, tablet computer, or watch. Even though apps are frequently little software units with limited capabilities, users may nevertheless enjoy high-quality services and experiences.

Mobile applications, unlike desktop apps, do not rely on integrated software systems. As a result, each mobile app has a set of functions that are limited. It might be a game, a calculator, or a mobile browser, for example.

Because of the limited hardware resources available, early mobile device apps could not perform several functions. Despite the fact that today's gadgets are substantially more capable, mobile applications continue to be limited in their capabilities. This is how mobile app developers allow users to select the features they want on their devices.

Mobile apps are a departure from the integrated software systems seen on PCs. To avoid this, each software provides a single piece of functionality, such as a game or a calculator. While early devices' restricted hardware resources prohibited applications from multitasking, their uniqueness is now part of their appeal since it allows customers to choose what their gadgets can accomplish.

A mobile app that sends data from a computer to a mobile device is the most basic type. Given the rising sophistication of mobile applications, this method is becoming less effective. When designing for the mobile environment, one must consider both the advantages and disadvantages. Area-based apps, for example, are naturally mobile-friendly since the user is not restricted to a specific location as they would be on a PC.

There are two types of apps: web-based and native. In contrast to hybrid applications, which may operate on both iOS and Android, native apps are built from the ground up for a single mobile operating system. Because they run better and offer a better user experience, native applications are more popular (UI). Before releasing these programs to the public, further comprehensive testing and quality assurance are required.

Because they are performed in a web browser, web apps written in HTML5 or CSS require the least amount of device RAM. After submitting data on an external web page, the user's data is saved on a remote server. A web app can only be used if you have a consistent network connection.

Kinds of Mobile Apps by Technologies

To help you better understand the process of developing a mobile application, here's a deeper look at the most critical components of technical concerns that company owners must address before designing an app.

So keep reading to understand mobile app categories and different types of mobile applications!

Native Applications

A more engaging and rewarding experience for the user may be offered by native apps. The designers that develop them employ native UI devices. Access to a large range of APIs also helps to accelerate application development and increase its functionality. Native programs must be downloaded from app stores and installed directly on mobile devices. They must first go through a stringent distribution procedure as a result.

Apple's iOS, Google's Android, and Microsoft's Windows Phone are examples of mobile platforms that include native apps. Using a native platform has the advantage of improving the entire user experience. Because it was designed specifically for the platform, it is quicker and more intuitive. Another well-known native mobile app is Facebook.

If you've previously downloaded the game's images, audio, and playable levels, you can play it offline. Some games, on the other hand, require an internet connection, either because they are online or because they require registration or in-game payments.

Web Applications

When viewed on a mobile device, responsive websites take on a new look. Adaptive web applications, on the other hand, adjust to the varied screen sizes of mobile devices.

Web applications, like native mobile apps, may be used on smartphones and tablets. However, there are significant variations between native and internet programs.

Web apps are often written in CSS, HTML5, or JavaScript and run on browsers. These apps redirect the user to a URL and then provide the choice to install the app. As a result, online programs need users to store the page for future reference. As a result, they consume the least amount of RAM.

Web applications, as opposed to native apps, are accessed through a mobile device's web browser but have the same organizational structure. They are not different programs when it comes to downloading and installing code. They are responsive websites that change their user interface depending on the visitor's device. When you choose to "install" an online software, you are actually only saving the website's URL on your computer.

These apps' appearance and feel won't change. Web applications are created using the most widely used programming languages. These programs, however, are unable to use the hardware of mobile devices or be bought via an app store.

Hybrid Applications

These applications run in web browsers but may be downloaded and installed on devices much like native ones. Any hybrid app is created using the HTML5 programming language. Although hybrid applications aren't as fast or trustworthy as native apps, they are more important in terms of streamlining the development process.

Hybrid apps may be developed in a fraction of the time and expense of native apps. This hybrid mobile app is intended to demonstrate that it is feasible to design an app that operates similarly to a native app. They load quickly, are ideal for nations with sluggish internet connections, and give users a consistent user experience.

Companies may save time and money by not developing and maintaining apps for several platforms. It's ideal for apps that are mostly content-based.

They may include a home screen app icon, responsive design, rapid performance, and even the ability to operate without being plugged in. Nonetheless, they are true web apps meant to seem native on a device's interface.

Finally, a single code base reduces the quantity of code that must be maintained greatly.

Cross-platform frameworks such as Cordova, Phonegap, and Ionic may all be used to develop hybrid apps. We will utilize Javascript to access the functionality of the mobile device using the API offered by this framework. You simply need to write once since these frameworks will generate Android and iOS installation files for you. This is the best development method for apps that do not demand a lot of computational power but must take advantage of the device's capabilities.

Types of Mobile Applications

Following our discussion of mobile app development technology, we can now move on to the most common types of mobile apps that are currently available.

1. Business or Productivity Apps

These applications are the second most popular among users and are sweeping the market as consumers increasingly utilize smartphones and tablets to do a variety of chores while driving. These technologies, which may be used for B2B or B2C transactions, make it easy to exchange emails, track project status, and make hotel reservations, to mention a few. The major purpose of these apps is to increase a company's productivity while decreasing expenditures.

Applications, for example, might assist people in booking tickets or sending emails. Business applications enable users to do a variety of activities, from ordering new printer cartridges for the office to recruiting a new office manager, all while enhancing productivity and lowering expenses.

Personal organizers, calendars, notepads, to-do lists, keyboards, calculators, document editors, audio/video meetings, and file managers are additional examples of business apps. Internal business apps, business management, business mapping and reviews, sales tools, remote employee access apps, business planning, document editors, and business news are additional examples of business apps.

2. Educational Apps

These applications sometimes referred to as educational apps, help users gain new knowledge and abilities. Due to their capacity to provide users with the desired degree of flexibility in their study programs, language learning applications like Duolingo, for instance, have become incredibly popular. The use of educational gaming applications for children might be quite advantageous. Along with students, instructors frequently use educational applications to improve classroom organization or expand their knowledge and skill sets.

Online learning, online college courses, test preparation, question-answering, study assistance, educational games, and language learning are further categories of educational applications.

3. Entertainment Apps

The ability to stream video content, locate events, communicate, and see online is drawing customers from all around the world to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. These applications often encourage user participation by updating users on new and improved products.

Movies, TV, streaming video, theater applications, time-wasters, and coloring books are further categories of entertainment apps.

4. Gaming Apps

Among the most popular apps are those that imitate video games. These two demographics account for one-third of all app downloads and three-quarters of all consumer expenditures.

You'd be pleasantly surprised to learn how many people use their cell phones and mobile devices to pass the time. Because of this lucrative industry, creating new games and mobile versions of well-known stationary games requires an increasing amount of time and resources. The two most played mobile games in the entire globe are Candy Crush Saga and Angry Birds.

Puzzles, action, adventure, fighter, sci-fi, arcade, board, card, casino, dice, racing, simulation, strategy, and trivia are more game app genres.

5. Lifestyle Apps

This wide category includes apps for shopping, fashion, virtual fitting rooms, working out, meeting new people, and dieting. These applications are concerned with many aspects of a person's everyday life.

Party planning, wedding planning, style guides, self-improvement, religious lifestyles, DIY guides, and wellness trackers are examples of lifestyle applications.

6. M-Commerce (mobile commerce) Apps

Popular shopping applications such as Amazon and eBay allow you to shop in the same way that you would on a desktop computer. Customers gain from mobile commerce applications since they have quick and simple access to items as well as secure payment choices.

Rewards, coupons and discounts, price comparisons, online shopping, auctions, grocery lists, menu planning, mobile gift cards, and product reviews are examples of M-commerce applications.

7. Travel Apps

This category's principal purpose is to make it easier for people to travel about. Users may use travel apps to convert their smartphones and tablets into travel journals and guides that will help them learn about the areas they are visiting. Visitors to this resort are often tech-savvy and proficient at making the most of their smartphone time. It's difficult to imagine traveling without Google Maps, Airbnb, or Uber.

Trip management, local guides, taxis, travel reviews, company information and reviews, and tours are some more sorts of travel applications.

8. Utility Apps

Utility apps have the shortest average session length of any app category. The most popular utility applications for smartphones and tablets include barcode scanners, trackers, and healthcare apps. We typically use these applications on a regular basis to do tasks quickly and efficiently.

Mobile security, virus cleaners, privacy, flashlights, calculators, screen locks, and app locks are examples of utility applications.

Conclusion

We hope this post has helped you better understand the current mobile app development landscape. In mobile apps, cutting-edge technologies such as the Internet of Things, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and others will be deployed.