A mobile app is a software application specifically designed to run on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These apps are developed to perform a variety of functions and provide services or entertainment tailored for portable devices.
Mobile apps can be broadly categorized into:
1. Native Apps: These are developed for a specific operating system, such as iOS (Apple) or Android (Google). They are downloaded from app stores like the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and can utilize operating system features efficiently.
2. Web Apps: These are accessed via a web browser on the mobile device and are not downloaded. They are essentially websites optimized for mobile access. They require an internet connection to function and are built using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
3. Hybrid Apps: These combine elements of both native apps and web apps. They are essentially web apps that live inside a native app shell, allowing them to be downloaded from app stores and have access to device hardware features. They are typically developed using frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Ionic.
Mobile apps serve a vast array of purposes including communication (WhatsApp, Slack), social networking (Facebook, Instagram), entertainment (Netflix, games), productivity (Microsoft Office, Evernote), finance (banking apps, budgeting tools), and many others.