Don't worry though - in this article, we'll demystify the most common mobile app lingo so you can understand what it all means and make informed decisions about your own business app.
iOS vs Android
When developing a mobile app, one of the first choices you'll need to make is whether to build it for Apple's iOS platform, Google's Android platform, or both.
iOS refers to the operating system used on Apple's iPhones and iPads. Apps designed for iOS have to go through Apple's rigorous App Store review process before they can be published.
Android, on the other hand, is the dominant mobile operating system globally, used by a wide variety of smartphone and tablet manufacturers like Samsung, Google, and OnePlus. Android apps are written in a different programming language to iOS apps and are distributed through the Google Play Store.
The advantage of building for both iOS and Android is that you can reach the widest possible customer base. However, this also means having to develop, test and maintain two separate versions of your app, which can be more time-consuming and expensive. Many small businesses opt to start with just one platform first, usually the one that aligns best with their target audience.
The best mobile apps have been carefully designed with the user in mind from the very beginning
Offline functionality
One key consideration for any mobile app is whether it needs to work when the user doesn't have an active internet connection. This is known as "offline functionality".
Apps that require an internet connection to do anything useful - like accessing data or completing transactions - are called "online" or "connected" apps. These types of apps are completely reliant on a stable internet signal, which can be problematic for users in areas with poor coverage.
"Offline" apps, on the other hand, are designed to function even when the user's device is not connected to the web. This might involve caching data locally on the device, or allowing users to complete certain actions that will then sync back up when a connection is re-established.
Offline functionality is particularly important for apps that need to be usable in remote locations, on public transport, or during periods of network outage. It provides a more reliable, seamless experience for customers.
User experience (UX)
User experience, or "UX" for short, refers to how easy, intuitive and enjoyable an app is for the person using it. Good UX design is critical for the success of any mobile app.
Some key UX considerations include:
- Navigation: How users move through the app and find the information/features they need
- Responsiveness: How quickly the app responds to user inputs and actions
- Aesthetics: The visual design, layout and use of colour, typography, and imagery
- Accessibility: Ensuring the app can be used by people with disabilities
- Functionality: Ensuring all the core features work as expected
The best mobile apps have been carefully designed with the user in mind from the very beginning. They anticipate user needs, remove friction, and provide a delightful experience overall.
Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)
Another important technical concept for mobile apps is the API, or Application Programming Interface.
An API is essentially a set of protocols, routines and tools for building software applications. It specifies how software components should interact with each other.
In the context of mobile apps, APIs are used to connect the app to external data sources or third-party services. For example, a restaurant booking app might use an API to access real-time availability data from the restaurant's reservation system.
Integrating APIs allows mobile apps to be more dynamic and feature-rich, without having to build everything from scratch. Popular API examples include mapping/navigation, payment processing, user authentication and weather data.
The advantage of using APIs is that the mobile app developer doesn't have to worry about the underlying infrastructure or logic - they can just use the functionality provided by the API. Of course, successfully integrating APIs does require some technical expertise.
Push notifications
Push notifications are alerts that pop up on a user's mobile device, even when the app itself is not open. They can be used to deliver timely, contextual information to users - for example, letting them know about a sale, an appointment reminder or breaking news.
Push notifications are a powerful tool for boosting user engagement and retention with your mobile app. When used thoughtfully, they can drive actions like increased purchases, appointment bookings or in-app activity.
However, it's important not to overdo it with push notifications, as too many can become annoying and cause users to disable the feature altogether. The key is to only send push notifications that are truly relevant and valuable to the user.
Wrapping up
As you can see, the world of mobile app development has its fair share of technical terms and jargon. But don't let that overwhelm you.
The most important things to understand are:
- The difference between iOS and Android, and which platform(s) makes the most sense for your business
- Whether your app needs to work offline, or can rely on an internet connection
- The importance of great user experience (UX) design
- How APIs can enhance your app's functionality
- How push notifications can be used to engage users
By getting familiar with these core concepts, you'll be well on your way to making informed decisions about your small business's mobile app strategy. And don't hesitate to rely on the expertise of a skilled mobile app development team to handle the technical details.