Mobile applications What are they, what are they for and what types exist?

Without us realizing it, mobile applications invaded our lives and all the routine we have during work or study days. This is because computer developments for smartphones provide a variety of functions that help improve people’s lives.

There are different types of apps, there are mobile, web and PWA. Each of these have a special operation and exclusive benefits for your mobile, which we will show you in this article so that you can make the most of them.

We will also show you all the uses that you can give it, the steps you must take to become an expert in the development of these software and where you can get them. Don’t waste any more time and let’s start enjoying this post.

What is an application for mobile devices and what is it for?

A mobile app is a software designed to be used on smartphones. This tool allows the person who installs the app on their mobile to carry out different types of tasks, be they professional, educational or to access bank accounts, among many others.

This type of apps must be distinguished from the mobile operating system. The latter is the necessary program to run all the hardware and software that the phone has. There can only be one at a time and they are the best known Android and iOS. In addition, these programs are installed on the mobile.

Instead, an app differs from the smartphone OS as this works in coordination with the operating system, and there may be a large number of apps installed on the phone. Some applications come from the manufacture of the mobile and cannot be deleted, while others are incorporated into the mobile from any store or distribution platform. They can be free or paid.

Among the benefits that this type of computer developments grant, we can name the following:

• The user has quick access to certain information, without having to identify yourself each time you enter the app.
• Although they have a great versatilitysince it can be used in any entertainment, scientific, work or educational area, also They have specific functions for each of these areas.. This achieves that the user has access to important tools that are at their fingertips and through simple steps.
• Improves contact between the user and a specific company. For example, to make a claim, this type of program is used where the provider will deliver a much faster response than if it is done through an administrative channel.

Types of mobile applications How are these tools classified?

If we consider the architecture with which they were built, we can classify applications into:

• Natives: They are computer developments that are built in a special way for certain operating systems. This allows access to all the physical characteristics of the mobile, so the permissions to access the hardware are much simpler. In addition, they have graphic interfaces that improve the user experience, since it has all the requirements to improve resources. Finally, they are characterized by not depending on an Internet connection and the update is carried out in a simple way. Its development language is Objective-C (iOS) and Java (Android).
• Web: Contrary to the previous ones, this type of application does need an Internet connection, in order to offer all its functions on any type of screen. Distribution and updating is also done in a simple way. They develop with language HTML, CSS Y JavaScript. They are compatible with any OS that the mobile has.
• Hybrids: It is a mixture of the previous two, where it combines robustness in frontend issues and improved storage. Distribution is done through stores.

Apps can also be divided according to their functionality:

• Accessibility: Applications of this type are developed to make the use of the device easier for the user when he has a disability problem. For example, speech recognition or text reading.
• System: His name says it all. They are apps developed so that the operation of the mobile works normally. In this type of classification are call logs, file compressors and contact management.
• Office: Applications designed so that the user can interact with different types of documents such as PDFspreadsheets or text editors.
• Games: It is one of the most famous categories that applications have. They are developed to entertain and amuse users. It has an advanced graphical interface, and is handled through the touch screen.
• Organization: The set of these applications allow people to organize their contacts, calendars and any other private data.
• Web: As with the classification by structure, these applications need to have an Internet connection to work. We can find in this group gmail, Instagram either Facebook.

What are all the uses that can be given to an application?

The uses that you can give to an application are varied. They can range from having social networks in your hands to making virtual payments through wallets or bank accounts, but these are not the only uses.

We will show you below, in more detail, everything you can do with a mobile computing app:

• Daily organization: You will have apps like google-calendar where you can incorporate all your personal activities. Then, you will be able to organize them considering the time of completion of each one.
• Geographic location: Maps are a very useful tool to have when you are on the road or traveling in places you don’t know. You can download Google Maps or Apple Maps for these cases.
• Email: Perhaps it is one of the most used apps during the day for work or study. You will be able to write and enter with very simple steps to the inbox of your electronic messages. Gmail is the undisputed leader in email applications.
• Images and videos: Every time the apps developed have better functions to record or obtain photographs and then edit them in a few clicks. You can capture all the moments of your day with this type of apps.
• Instant Messaging: We want to incorporate in the use of this type, not only those apps in which you will have the sending and receiving of messages automatically, but we also want to include the applications with which you can make calls by IP. WhatsApp and Skype are two clear examples of this type of use.
• Streaming content: There are a lot of mobile programs developed with which you can watch videos, TV and movies on your phone. This is the case of NetflixYouTube and DAZN.
• Gaming: Increasingly used this type of apps among people with mobile phones, they are aimed at all ages. They are characterized by having functions adapted to any smartphone. There are applications from chess, logic games and even war content.
• Mathematical calculations: The calculator is ideal for those people who need to do arithmetic operations every day. It is characterized by having all the scientific and financial functions of a real one.

How is the process to develop a mobile application?

We will see below the steps you must take to make a mobile application and thus you can become an expert programmer:

Design for the user

Like all things in which you need to create a certain tool, You need to know who the app is for. Since computer development is not the same for a child as it is for a university student or an office worker.

When you know who it is intended for, you can set the layout. Which will be based on the needs of your target market, the type of solutions you will provide and how it would relate to competing applications.

usability first

You must keep in mind that you can create the best application, but if it is not understood by the people who will use it, it will be of no use to you. Therefore, when you design a mobile app you will have to focus on your objective so that the development is easy to use and so that the user takes full advantage of its functions.

Start of development

Once you know who it is addressed to, what are the needs that you will solve for users and that it is practically functional, time to start development. For this you will have to plan the programming structure, as well as the languages ​​you will use and the rest of the elements necessary for computer development.

Test or test

Testing is an important stage for all apps that want to be successful. In other words, before being launched on the market, it is necessary to carry out tests to observe all the responses of the people. In this way, you will have to compare the feedback you get with the first and second stage. You will find deviations that you must correct or rethink the strategy to advance in the market.

In this period you will have very useful information that consumers will provide you, since they will tell you all the flaws they find and their true usability.

Publication

When you evaluated all the behavior of your application and corrected the deviations, incorporating the suggestions of the users, you are able to publish the app and launch it on the market.

Web App vs Mobile App: Which one is better and how are they different?

As we mentioned in the previous paragraphs, a mobile app is a computer development that is installed on the phone so that the user can perform different tasks through this application. In most cases it does not require a web connection for it to work. Its main purpose is to permanently interact with the consumer.

Instead, a web app is an Internet page that is adapted to the formats of a smartphone or tablet. It differs from a mobile app by the type of access, since a web application is accessed through the browser where the URL address must be written. In this case, its main purpose is to report on events and promotions, which is very different from the intensive use of mobile apps.

Therefore, we can say on the one hand that the mobile app is better, since the vast majority you do not need an internet connection in order to work. But if we take into account the space of the device, the web app will always be better, since for this it is not necessary to install it on the mobile.

Progressive Web App vs Mobile App: Which one is better and how are they different?

A progressive web app or PWA (for its acronym in English), is a computer development that is granted to a new generation of apps. They have improved functionality, because they have a design that adapts to the characteristics and capabilities of the device in which they are executed. Namely, PWAs use the standards intended for web appssuch as HTML and Javascript language, but they have the particularity that they behave like native applicationsaccording to the operating system that the phone has.

Therefore, they take the features of the native ones to improve push notifications and hardware access. Reaching in this way can be run offline. It is for all this that PWAs they have a better version with respect to web applications and in turn have greater advantages in relation to a mobile app. They do not take up space and can fulfill many of their functions.

List of the main official stores to find secure mobile applications

One of the characteristics of mobile applications is that they are distributed through stores. We will show you below which are the best official places where you can find secure apps for your mobile:

• Google Play Store: It is the official Google store, so all its computer developments that you can find on this site are for the Android operating system. You will find paid and free versions, as well as a wide variety of uses.
• App Store: Intended for iOS operating systems. It has the peculiarity that the apps that are uploaded to this official Apple store must be previously approved by the company. Therefore, everything you find in this store will be safe for your data and the device. You can also find paid and free applications.
• Microsoft Store: It is developed by Microsoft and is reserved for the Windows mobile operating system. On this distribution platform you will have a catalog of the best apps for any type of use. Work, like the others, online.
• BlackberryWorld: This app store is exclusive to the Blackberry operating system. So you can find free apps for these types of mobiles.
• Amazon App Store: The app distribution store, owned by Amazon, focuses on programs for use with the Android operating system. It is the direct competition of the Google Play Store. To download it, you must do it through the ecommerce giant.
• Huawei AppGallery: It is also aimed at mobile phones with Android OS, but with exclusive functions for Huawei phones. Among the different options you will find, you will have payment apps and others free of charge.
• f-droid: Another store dedicated to the Android OS, but it is characterized by having open source and freely distributed applications.