Mobile hybrid applications

Mobile hybrid applications are seamless amalgamations of native (iOS, Android or Windows Phone) and Web (HTML, CSS and JavaScript) technologies to provide multi-platform supported mobile applications in a cost and time effective manner. Hybrid applications are neither native apps nor Web apps. They are implemented with Web technologies and packaged as applications for distribution. These apps can access native device features and APIs. Basically, hybrid apps are native mobile applications which have Web browser control within their main UI screen. Here are the imperative characteristics for mobile hybrid apps: UI implementation using Web technologies (HTML, CSS and Java Script) Apps that are capable of using mobile platforms or operating system APIs An executable file that installs and resides in the mobile device Apps that can be distributed via platform-specific app stores or enterprise distribution mechanisms Figure 4 depicts an analogy of a hybrid application. Broadly, it has two layers—the container and the user interface. The container is implemented on the native mobile technology (Android, iOS or Windows Phone), whereas the UI (User Interface) is implemented with Web technologies (HTML, CSS and JS).

There are many frameworks and tools for hybrid app development. The major selling point for hybrid apps is crossplatform development. The following are the features that can be leveraged with hybrid apps: Integration of open source frameworks with HTML5 Liquid layouts for multi-screen UIs Local storage, multimedia handling, semantics and forms,