subject: A Discussion On Html5 Web Development [print this page] The main challenge behind developing a mobile app is to create a solution that runs on different mobile platforms available today! So while most of the businesses today target users in the developed countries the aim remains to develop app that can run equally well on Apples iOS, Windows, Android and Java (Blackberry).
In this context, HTML5 web development becomes a smart choice for most organizations. HTML5 helps in the creation powerful web applications that can run on multiple platforms and helps businesses in reaching new markets and prospects.
Native or Web Apps?
Nowadays, you find some cross-platform mobile development options popularly known as write once deploy everywhere. The main problem with this kind of development
is the multiple app deployments to many different stores. You also need to write platform specific
code to take advantage of the native features of the platform.
On the other hand, in case of web apps the browser compatibility issue is a major challenge. This
can be a big constraint as there are many browsers that only support text. In that case, your app
wont be fully functional. In a word, a business organization can develop both native and web apps
depending on its requirements.
HTML5: Best Option for Business Apps
Most browsers dont support the full HTML5 specification and in some cases, it also depends on
mobile features like camera, phone book, GPS etc. for proper functioning of the app. But, if you are
looking to develop business apps, HTML5 can be a great choice for you.
The success of HTML5 is best explained by the success of Facebook. This app runs on
web to run on mobile. Facebook allows you to do so many things and you can use almost all its
functionalities that you otherwise use on a PC. This clarifies that if you have a website
helping you in reaching and catering to your customers then HTML5 is best for you.
HTML5 is also supported across mainstream mobile browsers in areas like offline storage, geolocation, multimedia, graphics, touch events and large parts of CSS3. Thus, a mobile HTML5 site automatically provides these browser capabilities.
However, as a business organization you can use both native apps and HTML apps. For example, LloydsTSB is an app that can be downloaded but runs a browser version of their Internet banking service.
You can also find libraries like JQueryMobile that simplify cross platform mobile app development and provide features making web apps feel like native apps.
