Is HTML5 Making Cross Platform Mobile App Development Easier?

The mobile app space is exploding. Whether it is individual users, or enterprise workforce, people are expecting connectivity through applications like never before. The ability to upload & download information anytime anywhere is important for people in order to be able to text, talk, email, conduct research, or shop. These expectations of mobile device users can be fulfilled only through the use of effective apps that run successfully on the OS platforms of the devices. Since multiple operating systems are in use within a single business entity, it has come across as a challenge to app developers to create application samples that will run successfully on each platform. This is the main reason for the launch of the cross platform mobile app development technique; cross platform apps can be run on multiple OS platforms and hence their rising popularity. HTML5 is one of the main programming languages, besides CSS3 and JavaScript, which a software developer should be adept with while designing cross platform mobile apps.

The Role of HTML5 in Cross Platform App Technology :

Firstly, the modern app developers have to cater to the application needs of not only various mobile device users but also multiple OS platform users. This is the reason why developers need to be well acquainted with the use of tools or frameworks that support cross platform mobile app development. The highest selling & most used of such frameworks (like Appcelerator Titanium, PhoneGap, Rhodes, and Unify Project) specifically target the HTML5 language during the application development process.

Alternately, mobile developers can directly use HTML5 to build mobile web applications. The browser support for HTML5 improving with the introduction of several features, developers no longer have to run the programming language in a native environment while app designing. Accessing HTML5 web apps from application shortcuts on the home screen will soon cease to exist. On the contrary, companies are using the HTML5 platform directly to build apps that run on multiple operating systems of the next generation mobile devices. Recently concluded research shows that the current app developers’ community prefers to use just the HTML5 environment for application designing.

Importance of HTML5 in Current Cross Platform App Development Scenario :

Native mobile applications still succeed in generating more user attention. But an increasing number of mobile device users are now accessing their devices’ browsers. The drawbacks in mobile web applications are effectively mitigated by HTML5 tools. Therefore, this software development language is a more viable option when it comes to shifting from native app development to web app development for a developer. More than 60 percent of app designers worldwide now use the HTML5 framework, says research reports. The standard and nonproprietary HTML5 technology is so advanced that it incorporates the advanced features of Adobe, Microsoft, Flash, & Silverlight.

Whether the app developer has to build using a particular framework or an application wrapper, or merely create mobile web apps, the HTML5 programming language will continue to dominate as the driving force in the world of future mobile app development, say market analysts. In fact, with the IT industry introducing improved technology periodically, it will not come as a surprise to see HTML5 elements in native desktop applications also. If predictions are to be believed, the end of year 2015 will witness a tenfold increase in the adoption of HTML5 framework in app development firms.