A cross-platform app is a software application that can run on multiple operating systems or platforms. This means that the same codebase can be used to create an app that works on iOS and Android, for example, or can run on both Windows and Mac computers.
Ways to create cross platform apps, including:
Hybrid app development: This approach involves using web technologies, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, to build the app, and then wrapping it in a native container to run on multiple platforms.
Cross-compilation: This approach involves writing the app in a high-level language, such as C# or Java, and then using a tool to convert the code into native code for each platform.
Native development: This approach involves writing the app in the native language for each platform, such as Objective-C for iOS and Java for Android, but sharing a portion of the codebase across the platforms.
Cross-platform app development can have several benefits, including:
Reaching a wider audience: The ability to run on multiple platforms allows the app to reach more users, regardless of their device.
Reduced development costs: By only having to maintain one codebase, development and maintenance costs can be reduced.
Faster time to market: By only developing one app version, the time to market can be reduced.
However, it’s important to note that cross platform app development can also have some limitations, such as a lack of native performance and potential design and usability issues.
Also, See: Native Mobile Apps | Hybrid Mobile Apps