One of the biggest challenges faced by any app development company is building and designing of an application. The features of the application must be all in one as it needs to fulfill the needs of the clients and must be available on various platforms for people to use. The applications must be made so that it is compatible with the multiple mobile operating systems. App developers have excellent app development skills who can use the the latest app development tools and designs to deliver the high-end apps with attractive features and user friendly interface.

Cross-Platform App Development is the creation of software applications that are compatible with multiple mobile operating systems. These cross-platform mobile apps works across the multiple platforms.

In the following blog, we shall discuss the cross-platform apps, cross-platform app development, advantages of cross-platform app development and tips for developing cross-platform apps.

What is Cross-Platform Apps?

The cross-platform apps are mobile app that is compatible with multiple operating systems that can easily run on any tablet, PC or smartphone and connected TV device. Cross-platform apps are ones that are built-in web languages that can be pulled as native apps that can work on any operating system and device. Cross-platform apps can build your app faster, update and maintain easy and also market it faster.

What is Cross-Platform App Development?

In the previous one decade we have seen a sudden transformation in the market demand of mobile apps. The app developers have all mastered the art of developing iOS and Android platforms. The mobile app developers can include more than one environment in their work. This shall facilitate the cross-platform app development process where the company just need to make a choice regarding development cost, timing and skills required to develop apps.

When developing mobile app for the multiple platform then a developer requires to have an extensive knowledge of his field and different technologies. The different native platforms imposes rigorous analysis from both tech and business point of view.

The cross-platform app development is the practice of software service and product on the multiple operating systems such as iOS, android and windows. Cross-platform mobile app development is the process of developing mobile apps that can easily be published on the multiple platforms by using a single codebase. A single code is used for developing app on various platforms by using the native technologies for each platform.

Advantages of Cross Platform App Development

Mostly the mobile app development companies prefers to develop the native apps but only one-third of the app development company and developers prefers to develop a cross platform app framework. Some of the very common advantages of cross-platform mobile app development :-

Reduction in cost and timing

The first advantage of developing cross-platfrom apps is less monetary investment in comparison to the native mobile app development. Since there is a reduced cost and timing for developing cross-platform apps the startups and all small and medium sized enterprises are interested to develop such cross-platform apps. It includes incurring less individual cost and it only requires one team of programmers instead of native apps. The cross platform app development framework can be used for building a product that takes really less time than it takes time to build on a native platform and it involves a single cycle of app development.

Integration of cross platform app

Another important advantage is the integration of the cross platform app with cloud hosting. This gives a lot of flexibility in managing the app with the help of plug-ins and extensions.

Easy maintenance and reuse code

The technology that is used requires only one code base that calls for an easy maintenance and also uses only one cross platform tool. The cross platform updates can be synced across all the required platforms. The code used for cross-platform apps can be reused that makes the app development process more efficient. In app design stage, only one code can be used for all the platforms and it saves a lot of time.

It has better and wider reach

The cross-platform development has wider reach towards audience who are seeking for technology based products. Having an app that can run easily on all the available platforms means it is an interactive app that ensures more number of secured paying users.

Tips For Developing Cross-Platform Application

The top platforms for apps are android, iOS and windows that shall always use the same formats. This frames certain problems for developers who wants to create cross-platform apps. The issues that may arise while developing an app that must be compatible with most of the platforms. Each and every single platform must be able to fulfill the needs of clients. Any such cross-platform apps can deliver high user experience, user interface(UI) with an appealing design.

• Make Your App Attractive
  When you are developing any cross-platform app it must be engaging and pleasing to a potential user so that he buys it. Any searcher must feel like to buy the app and also must be consistent across the different platforms. Cross-platform app design can be different for each platform but the brand identity shall remain same. The app is designed for each platform without the need to loose the recognition. This shall build the brand name and bring awareness and that might bring success.
  
• Use A Platform-Independent Approach
  Usually the developers can focus on creating apps for only one platform at a time either for iOS and android. When using a platform independent app development approach shall help to focus on the results in performance for both the engines.
  
• Make Friends With Designers
  Before creating a cross-platform app you need to be friends with a designing team that ensures that all the research is already done that makes the app usable for each platform. You can combine your knowledge with the designing skills that helps in identifying the positive and negative of the app and it’s functionality. This helps in achieving the different UX goals and combined effort of designers and developers. The pattern differences for each platform enhances the user experience.
  
• Let UI Guideline For Both Platforms Happen
  When you are addressing the needs of the diverse platforms that requires developers to follow the separate UI guidelines. Delivering a great and unique user experience is very important in the cross-platform app development. There are many differences that comes into the way of a cross-platform app development that needs to be adequately addressed before the app building process starts. The developer must have a clear and deep understanding and knowledge about different platforms and must ensure that app is handled perfectly for all the engines. Before choosing any specific feature to one platform the developers must have complete knowledge with all platforms scenarios that shall help in performing well and create user-friendly feature.
  
• Take That To The Test
  The combination that developers uses to create cross-platform application that includes all universal elements that are applied to all engines. Testing the app on all platforms can help you to estimate any progress and for making required adjustments before getting to the point of no return.
  
• Use Reliable Cross-Platform Apps Modules
  There is a benefit of using modules to help with app development for cross-platform apps. This helps to reduce the time spent on development process of the apps for the various engines and also give the widest possible exposure to native SDKs. The modules can bring a lot of quality information in the process that can be used. Third-party modules can help to create unique UX across the different platforms. This saves time when the modules have extensive toolsets. You also get a lot of flexibility when developing added features.
  
• User Is Ultimate Focus
  When cross-platform applications are developed the user should be the primary focus of it. There is no difference while developing a cross-platform app or any other mobile app. While using the app from different platforms the developer needs to be familiar from the development side. This shall help the the user to experience a better understanding, usability and functionality of an application. This shall help the developer to improve the user experience by working on features that are added to the application.