Types of Mobile Application
- What are Native Applications?
Native applications can be installed from application stores like Android’s Google Play or Apple’s App Store. We can access these apps by clicking on the application’s icon on the home screen of our device.
Native applications can benefit from the device features as they are developed explicitly for one platform only. Device features such as the GPS, camera, compass, accelerometer, and list of contacts can be accessed by these applications. Native applications can work offline and also utilize the notification system of the device.
- What are Hybrid Applications?
Hybrid applications consist of features from both native and web applications. These applications are launched in a native container that utilizes the WebView object. Through the use of web technologies, the object displays web content when the application is launched.
With the help of WebView display, the web pages from a desktop website can be displayed by the application. As the application launches, the web content can be displayed immediately or for certain sections of applications only.
Device’s hardware elements can be accessed by using the native code to provide a smooth user experience. Platforms that provide JavaScript APIs can be used for Hybrid applications if those functionalities are compatible with the WebView.
- What are Web Applications?
Web applications utilize browsers to perform their tasks on the Internet. These applications are very similar to native applications in terms of functioning. User is redirected to URL by this application and they have the option to install it by bookmarking it to their page.
The personal database is stored in the server and it can be accessed by the user with any device that has an internet connection. A poor internet connection can lead to bad user experience. Apart from geolocation and a few others, there are not many APIs accessible for the developers. As a rule, minimum device memory is required for Web applications to function.
- Categories of Applications
As per the Statistica report, only seven app categories have reached to more than three percent of users. In Google Play, there are thirty-three categories of applications and in Apple’s App Store, there are twenty-four categories. In this article, we will explore ten different categories of mobile applications.
Lifestyle Apps
A Lifestyle application supports the individual aspects that define the user’s lifestyle. These applications have become a trend in recent years. Lifestyle applications are used by users regularly, for example, to find a restaurant, or destination, etc. These applications assist the user in determining their likes and dislikes. Some examples of Lifestyle applications are:
– Moovit
– Edison mail
– Analyst
– Spotify
– Uber
Utility Apps
Used daily, people utilize these applications just for the sake of getting things done and move on. In comparison with other applications, utility apps show the least amount of user session times. For example, when solving an equation, the user will use the calculator and once the equation is solved, he/she will put it away. Some examples of Utility applications are:
– Flashlight
– Calculator
– Weathers
– QR reader
– My Verizon
Gaming Apps
Twenty-four percent of entire mobile applications come under this category. Gaming apps are considered one of the most popular categories among the different categories of applications.
Developers are investing more resources and time in developing new games as mobile gaming has been a flourishing industry. Gaming apps provide the user with high engagement and a sense of achievement in the process.
Eight minutes is the average gaming session. It is considered one of the most profitable categories for developers. Some examples of gaming applications are:
– Angry Birds Go
– Clash of Clans
– Temple Run
– Candy Crush Saga
– Solitaire
Travel Apps
Users utilize travel applications to make their traveling easier, fun, more comfortable and informative. With the help of travel apps, a user can use their smartphone to guide them to various travel locations through maps, they translate unknown languages and it can be used as a travel diary.
Travel applications have become a must-have for tourists when they are traveling. Some example of travel apps are :
– Airbnb
– Google Maps
– Hotel Tonight
– Culture Trip
– TripCase
Social Media Apps
Users like to share their day-to-day lives on social media, these applications have become very popular categories in mobile apps with Facebook alone reporting over 1 billion active daily users.
Developers are currently focusing on integrating and expanding the features of their social media applications where applications that don’t fall under the social media category will have the sharing functionality. Some examples of social media applications are:
– Snapchat
Entertainment Apps
Entertainment applications often due to the same goal are related to gaming but these applications also include streaming, watching videos online, etc. These applications keep the users engaged, logged in and frequently update it. Some examples of entertainment apps are:
– Amazon Prime Video
– Netflix
– Dubsmash
– Talking Tom Cat
– NBC
Business Apps
Business apps include sending emails, booking, billing, buying and tracking work in progress. They are also known as productivity apps and currently occupy second place with ten percent share.
From office and personal apps to B2B applications, business apps can be used for improving productivity and reducing the cost. With just one tap, the company can hire app developers, get a new sales-manager, etc. Today’s smartphones can run complex tasks seamlessly. Examples of Business apps are:
– Indeed job search
– Adobe Acrobat Reader
– Dragon Dictation
– Square Register
– Facebook Pages Manager
News/Information outlets
These applications provide the user with the news and information they look for. The news app comes with a layout that easily navigates to the news or information that the user is looking for.
Examples of News/Information applications are:
– Yahoo news digest
– Buzzfeed
– Linkedin Pulse
– Smart news
Educational Apps
Educational apps have various benefits, it can be used to teach kids through educational game apps or students can benefit from it out of class and learn as per their pace.
Teachers are also getting benefits from educational apps, it helps them make their teaching process better and further improve their knowledge. Examples of educational apps are:
– Dragonbox
– Quick Maths
– Science360
– Crossword Puzzles
– Flow Free
Books
Books apps are for those who have an interest in reading books. Digital books provide numerous benefits in comparison to their physical counterparts. For example:
– It is very easy to manage multiple e-books
– User can customize the text formatting
– Conservation of forest by saving trees
– User can use it wherever he/she is.
Examples of Books are:
– Amazon Kindle
– Audible
– Blinklist
– Goodreads
– Comixology
Summary
We have only listed general categories, there are many types of app categories. For a developer, it is important to remember that when creating an application, its purpose must be to make life easier, whether it is any type of group.
Prinsa Prajapati is a digital marketer, a full-time essayist, and an accomplished technology blogger. Currently associated with Silicon IT Hub Pvt Ltd. Her areas of expertise include digital and content marketing. She can be seen sharing her experience and expertise on information technology, guided by a passion for helping businesses grow by writing articles for businesses that want to see their services ranked # 1 in Google. When she doesn’t work, she enjoys travel adventures and reading literary masterpieces.