What is a cross-platform app?

CrossPlatform

Cross-Platform Apps run on different mobile device types like Apple, Android and Windows hardware, but share code. That’s important because writing code takes time and costs money; the more code that can be shared, the quicker and cheaper it is to write. Another huge benefit is that less code means less chance for bugs to creep in.

There are several ways that apps can be written in a Cross-Platform way. Our preferred way is with Xamarin. Xamarin allows us to write shared code for all the back end functionality, but still write fluid, bespoke, native user interfaces. That means we get all the benefits of shared code in the complex bit, but still, have the beauty of a user interface that looks good and integrates well on the device.

Each platform (Apple, Android, Windows) has its own set of rules defining how a user interface should work – an Android app looks and feels quite different to an Apple app. Adhering to these rules means that users get a more intuitive experience, and breaking these rules can sometimes prevent apps from being allowed onto an App Store.

If you want your app to work on more than one platform, then it’s worth considering your Cross-Platform options. Even if you’re pretty sure that you only want to run on one platform, using a Cross-Platform tool could give you huge benefits in the future if your app takes off and you want to do a version on another platform!