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Native App

A native app is built specifically for one operating system, iOS or Android, using that platform's own technologies. It is installed from the App Store or Google Play and has full access to the device's capabilities.

Why it matters

Native is the benchmark for mobile quality: the smoothest interface, reliable push notifications, offline capability, and access to everything the device can do. Being in the stores also carries weight in itself: for many audiences, a presence on the App Store and Google Play is what makes a business feel established. The trade-off is that each platform normally requires its own development.

How it works

A native iOS app and a native Android app are separate builds, written with each platform's technologies and interface components, then submitted to their respective stores for review. Once published, they are installed like any app and updated through the stores. This is the opposite of a web view wrapped in an app shell: a native app's screens are real platform components, which is what users feel in the responsiveness of every scroll and tap.

How GoodBarber relates to this

GoodBarber builds real native apps for iOS and Android, not web pages in a shell, and generates them from a single project along with a PWA. The details of what that produces are on the native technology page.

Frequently asked questions

How is a native app different from a hybrid app?
A hybrid app embeds web content inside an app shell: one codebase, but interface and performance compromises. A native app uses each platform's own components, which delivers the responsiveness and integration users expect from the stores.
Do I need to build two apps for iOS and Android?
The platforms are indeed separate, and that is normally two developments. App builders remove that burden: with GoodBarber, one project generates the native iOS app, the native Android app, and a PWA.

Useful links

Related terms