Introduction

This article explains mobile app development, related technologies, types of applications in the current scenario, from the past and the future along with their related operating systems. So buckle up and prepare for this app journey.
Here we go.

Applications | Overview

We are in an era of applications that are continuously making our life easier, better and I can say extended. So just go through all these types and be a part of this app era.
Applications Overview

Definition

An application is nothing but a set of programs or codes designed for performing some required or pre-defined operations.
There can be several types of applications. Based on their functionality their definition and working methodology, technologies also differ from each other.
Definition
Now I am taking you into an ocean of applications.

Current scenario | App Development

Here I am comparing the data of a few years of mobile-based devices like tablets, smartphones, tablets and so on with the internet on machines so that you can have a feel of the current app development market.
Current scenario

Application | Types

When we talk about applications, our mind generally takes us to several types of utility apps, gaming apps, and social networking apps, that's it, but that's neither the end nor the beginning. In the current scenario when we talk about applications, we need to be specific and more generic about what type of app we are talking about and what the scenario is for that.
So in this portion of this blog, I will talk about several existing categories of applications and further, I'll discuss them in detail. (Here we will cover app categories from the past and future perceptions along with the present needs and usefulness).
Application_types
In spite of all these major categories, there can be some derived categories too that fits in every major category depending on their development procedure and various functionalities.
Generally, the most commonly used derived categories are:
  • Static Apps
  • Dynamic Apps
  • Single Page AppsEtc.

1. Native Applications

In simple words, we can say that Native applications are developed for specific platforms and are installed on a computing device.
Native apps are generally developed using an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). IDEs are used in this kind of app development because IDEs provide:
And some other useful utility tools for providing full support in app development.
Native Applications
We need to use IDEs because native apps are difficult to build because there are no direct development options such as you just only need to copy and paste some code snippet and it's over.

Native App | Features

Some of the most common features of native apps are as follows.
Pros
Cons

Native App | Technologies

Some of the most commonly used technologies are:

Native App | Example

Some popular apps are:

2. Hybrid Applications

In very common words we can define hybrid apps as Applications that are a combination of both native and web applications.
As I explained, native apps are developed for specific platforms and are installed on a computing device and web applications are those that are built for multiple platforms and can work globally. These types of applications can be simply accessed or used by the browser via an active internet connection.
Hybrid Applications
Thus hybrid apps are a combination of both of these categories, having more features than native and web applications individually.

Hybrid App | Features

Some of the most common features of hybrid apps are as follows.
Pros
Cons

Hybrid App | Technologies

The most used technologies are:

Hybrid App | Example

Some of the popular apps are:

Native VS Hybrid

Here will compare and contrast between a native app and hybrid apps, how they differ and scenarios depending on their functionality through this picture.
Just go through this image and feel the difference:
Native VS Hybrid

Native VS Hybrid VS Web Applications

In this portion I am showing a real scenario of these 3 major app categories:
Native VS Hybrid VS Web Applications

3. Generic Apps

In simple words, we can say A mobile website will work with all the mobile platforms and phones as well.
In the diagram shown below, represents an overview or model of how generic applications actually work and their processing from one step to another without any difference. So the generic application concept is not really new, it was in the market but not at its peak but in the current scenario, it's crossing several leaps and bounds and giving tough competition to the mobile application development market.
Generic Apps

Generic App | Features

Some measured features of generic apps are:
Pros
Cons

Generic App | Technologies

Some preferred technologies are:

Generic App | Examples

Some popular apps are:

4. Dedicated Apps

In common words, Dedicated apps are requirement-specific static apps that are directly dependent upon the few module requirements and limited functionality.
Dedicated apps are better than bookmarked apps because several well defined and designed functionality depend on the requirements.
Dedicated Apps
Some people define dedicated apps as a website that is tailored to work on mobile devices.

Dedicated App | Features

Some features of dedicated apps are:
Pros
Cons

Dedicated App | Technologies

Some preferred technologies are:

Dedicated App | Examples

Some popular apps are:

5. Bookmark Apps

In simple words, bookmark apps are applications that let users save web resources that they wish to access later into organized lists that can be shared online or we can say bookmark apps are mobile websites. Bookmark apps make your website compatible for viewing in mobile or tablets or mobile versions of a website.
Bookmark Apps.

Bookmark App | Feature

Some specific features are:
Pros
Cons

Bookmark App | Technologies

Bookmarks applications don't use any specific technology, these applications are generally based on browser interaction, so these applications use:
Bookmark App | Example

6: Cross-Platform Apps

In most simple words we can say In computing, cross-platform means applications/software that can work freely on various platforms or multiple platforms.
Cross-platform applications can be based on the following two types of functionalities:
Cross Platform Apps
Cross-platform applications are widely used and accepted these days due to their performance and capability of supporting various platforms without serious causes. In spite of all these, it also gives developers some additional support of libraries, utility tools and so on.

Cross-platform Design | view

This view represents the support and design architecture.
Cross platform Design

Cross-Platform App | Features

Some features of cross-platform apps are:
Pros
Cons

Cross-Platform App | Technologies

Some preferred technologies/frameworks are:

Cross-Platform App | Example

Some popular apps are: