App development
A short explanation of app development in our glossary
App development happens across several phases and covers everything from planning, conception and programming through to the maintenance of mobile apps and other applications.
First, you need an idea. This can come about in different ways: you might have a spontaneous idea, or — as is most often the case — it emerges from a brainstorming session. Various questions need to be answered, such as: What content should the app contain? Who is the target audience? What will the app be used for?
You also have to decide what kind of app it is. There are three types:
The hybrid app: a kind of improved web app or an adapted browser, used by many social media services such as Facebook and Twitter and by various shopping platforms. The native app: an app optimised for the respective operating system that needs no internet connection. The web app: software that runs in the browser and is usually independent of the operating system. Next comes the conception of the user experience and the user interface. The key question here is how the app should be structured. This is followed by the visual design of the app.
The final step is the programming. Depending on the type of app, it is then built with the appropriate development tools.