Native App
Native Application
An app that's installed directly on a smartphone or computer and runs at high speed.
In Simple Terms
A native app is an app you download and run directly on your smartphone or computer. You download it ahead of time and save it on the device before using it. It can directly access device features like the camera and location. Much of it works even without an internet connection.
Behind the Name
The name comes from "native," meaning something that belongs to a place from the very start, rather than being brought in from outside. A native app is built and installed to run directly on a specific device - like a smartphone or computer - tapping fully into that device's own power and features, just as something "native" truly belongs where it is.
Take a Closer Look!
A native app is an app built using the development environment (SDK) and software components (frameworks) that a specific OS - like iOS or Android - provides, and it's installed and run directly on the device.
Programming languages like Swift or Kotlin are general-purpose and used for other things too, but a native app uses that OS's dedicated SDK, which lets it directly access the OS's features and screen components.
Among other apps that are also installed on a device, there are "hybrid apps," built with web technologies that call OS features indirectly through an in-app browser component (WebView), and "cross-platform apps," which convert a single codebase for each OS. What sets a native app apart is that it directly accesses the OS's features and screen components.
Because of this, it can make full use of the device's CPU and other hardware, so screen transitions and responses to your taps feel very fast and smooth.
Features like the camera, location, and notifications also work together with no noticeable lag.
Native apps are commonly used for fast-paced 3D games and tools that require precise, detailed controls.
On the other hand, developers need to write separate code for iOS and for Android, which takes more time and money to build.
So while the barrier to development is high, a native app is a setup that draws out 100% of the device's power to deliver the most comfortable, responsive experience possible.