Apache Cordova is an open-source project that has revolutionized the way businesses develop cross-platform mobile applications. By utilizing HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3, Cordova enables developers to create apps that can be launched on multiple platforms, while also accessing device-level APIs. In this article, we'll explore how Cordova works with hybrid applications and highlight its advantages over native mobile app development.

What is Cordova?

Cordova is an open-source project within the Apache Software Foundation (ASF). Its primary goal is to develop cross-platform mobile applications that can be launched on multiple platforms, including iOS and Android. The framework uses HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS3 for mobile application development, which are then wrapped in a native container. At execution time, these files are interpreted by the device's web engine.

How Cordova Works with Hybrid Applications

The architecture of hybrid mobile applications is designed to wrap web code into a platform-specific native container. This native container communicates with device APIs whenever web code demands. The container sends requests to device APIs and receives responses from them. It also parses data from both web code and device APIs, allowing the parties to understand each other's data.

This hybrid approach makes Cordova applications slightly slower compared to native mobile applications. However, as smartphones' hardware continues to improve, this difference becomes increasingly negligible. Web code is executed by a web engine, which interprets JavaScript, HTML, and CSS code. The most popular device web engines are WebKit, Moz, and IE.

Web Code Execution

Web code can be provided in two ways: wrapping it into an application build or keeping it on a server and loading it each time the app is used. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages. The first approach takes less time to load applications, while the second approach may take longer due to data loading from the web server. Even with caching enabled, there are limitations, making the first approach more suitable for larger applications.

Cordova Mobile Application vs Native Mobile Application

When it comes to developing mobile applications, businesses often face a choice between native and hybrid approaches. In our experience working on multi-platform enterprise-level mobile applications for governance and info-media domains, we've identified several key points that are essential for mobile application development:

  • Effort: Developing separate mobile applications for each platform requires significant effort. Cordova reduces this effort by allowing developers to code once and use it everywhere.
  • Time: Native mobile applications require separate time allocations for each platform. With Cordova, developers can focus on a single mobile application for the entire project.
  • Development Team: Native applications often require separate teams of developers for each platform. Cordova simplifies development by using web developers who can build applications for multiple platforms with little extra effort.
  • Maintenance & Upgrades: Maintaining and upgrading native mobile applications is a time-consuming task. Cordova's "write it once, run everywhere" policy makes maintenance and upgrades more efficient.
  • Access to Native Features: While native applications have direct access to device features, Cordova apps can also utilize device-level APIs, including basic and major functionalities built into the platform.

By choosing Cordova for your mobile application development needs, you'll unlock the benefits of swift app development for business applications. With its flexibility, scalability, and ease of use, Cordova is an ideal choice for businesses looking to develop cross-platform mobile apps that can be launched on multiple platforms.