What does "native" mean? Explained in simple terms

Contents:

• What is "native" in general
• What is "native" in graphics
• When graphics don't look native
• What is native in interfaces
• What is "non-native" in interfaces
• What is native and non-native user experience or process
• Summary
• What is a mobile platform?
• What are native apps?
• What Is there an alternative to native apps?
• In the end

The term "native" is used in both design and information technology, but its meaning can vary depending on the context. In design, "native" typically refers to elements that fit naturally into a specific environment or platform, creating a harmonious user experience. In IT, the term most often refers to applications or programs developed specifically for a specific operating system or platform, ensuring their maximum performance and functionality. Thus, while the basic meaning of the term remains similar, its application and interpretation vary across industries. Artem Kozhevnikov, a design expert, and Nikolai Sotsky, a development specialist, explain the concept of "native" in an accessible way. Native content, or native advertising, is material that blends seamlessly into the environment without distracting the user from the main content. This approach allows for a more natural interaction with the audience and increases engagement. Experts emphasize the importance of adapting the format to the platform to ensure maximum effectiveness and meet the expectations of the target audience.

The design director of the digital agency "Beta" is responsible for the development and implementation of creative concepts that contribute to the successful promotion of brands in the online space. Their responsibilities include managing a team of designers, creating unique visual solutions, and ensuring projects are in line with modern web design trends. A professional in their field, the design director strives to create an attractive and functional user experience, which makes the Beta agency a reliable partner for businesses looking to stand out in the digital world.

When creating applications or web pages, whether services or conceptual sites with original graphics and storytelling, designers design the graphical interface. This interface is the element with which users directly interact. In addition, they develop user experience scenarios, defining the structure and functionality of an application or site. The correct combination of a graphical interface and a well-thought-out user experience ensures effective interaction and attracts user attention, which contributes to the success of the product in a competitive environment.

There is an important difference between these two tasks. Once the interface is designed, it can be evaluated statically. However, to understand the interaction process, it is necessary to use the product dynamically. Only in this case can users fully appreciate the functionality and usability of the interface.

Static interfaces and dynamic processes can be both native and non-native. Native solutions provide deeper integration with the platform, which allows for better performance and user experience. Non-native options, in turn, can offer flexibility and cross-platform capabilities, but they can sometimes face limitations in functionality and speed. When choosing between a native and non-native approach, it is important to consider the project's goals, target audience, and performance requirements.

What is "native" in general?

Native, in its simplest sense, means "native." We use this word much more often than we realize. For example, when we say "native iPhone cable," we mean the original, matching, and native cable that comes with Apple devices and is intended for use with them. Native accessories ensure optimal compatibility and quality, which is especially important for users who want to maintain the functionality of their devices.

In design, it can sometimes be difficult to draw a clear line between different types of graphics, interfaces, and interaction processes. To better understand the difference between native and non-native design, it is important to clarify and narrow the scope of our discussion. Native design involves the use of elements and principles that fit naturally within a specific platform or environment, providing users with an intuitive and comfortable experience. In contrast, non-native design may include elements that do not fully meet user expectations in a specific environment, which can lead to confusion and reduced usability. Understanding these differences is critical to creating effective and engaging interfaces that meet user needs and platform specifics.

We will examine this property of graphics, interfaces, and processes using a specific project as an example. This will allow us to better understand its application and impact on user performance and interaction. By analyzing visual aspects and interface solutions, we can identify key points that contribute to an improved user experience and enhanced project functionality.

What is "native" in graphics?

• If the illustrations, graphics, or motion in a project are all executed in the same style, they can be said to be native in relation to that style.

Illustrations can create the impression of a unified style, as if they were created by the same artist, even if this is not the case. Such similarities in visual design can arise from the use of similar techniques, color schemes, or themes. This creates a harmonious perception, which is especially important for brands and projects striving for unity in visual communication.

• In a good design, illustrations are native not only in relation to the chosen style, they also fit organically into all other graphic components of the project.

Interface elements, typography, and layout appear as closely related elements, creating a harmonious unity in the design.

When graphics don't look native

Let's turn our attention again to the concept of kinship and analyze it from two perspectives. Kinship encompasses both biological and social ties between people. It is important to understand how these relationships influence the interaction and structure of society. Considering these aspects allows us to gain a deeper understanding of the significance of kinship in a cultural and social context.

• Graphics and illustrations can be non-native in relation to each other within the same project. This is immediately noticeable: the images don't look right and are inserted seemingly at random. This destroys the visual integrity of the project.

• The graphics may simply not fit the project as a whole, although all its elements go well together. In this case, we can say that such graphics are not native to the project.

What is native in interfaces?

User interfaces, like illustrations, have a unique style within their set. This style is important for creating a harmonious and intuitive interaction experience. Proper interface design contributes not only to visual appeal, but also to usability, which directly affects user satisfaction.

In web design, as well as in the design of applications and services, an important aspect is the creation of design systems. These systems allow you to effectively combine interface elements, ensuring consistency and harmony in visual presentation. Each interface element can either organically fit into the style of the design system or not. A well-designed design system improves user experience and simplifies the development process, providing a unified approach to style and functionality.

Let's look at the card shown in the screenshot. This is a complex, multi-component component consisting of several design system elements, such as a heading, body text, button, illustration, color palette, and the card structure itself. All card elements are harmoniously coordinated and executed in a unified style, ensuring their nativeness within the design system context. Each component is not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, enhancing user interaction with the interface.

This screenshot shows an interface built entirely using native elements of the Material Design design system. These elements ensure intuitive user interaction and create a harmonious visual perception. Using Material Design allows for a high-quality user experience thanks to its responsive design and modern aesthetic solutions.

When adding a new element to a design system, the designer must consider the inheritance of styles and rules established previously. This ensures that the new interface fits seamlessly into the existing system. Proper adherence to these principles allows for the creation of a unified and consistent visual language, which enhances the user experience and increases the effectiveness of interaction with the interface.

Manufacturers of devices for which new apps are developed sometimes have their own design systems. In such cases, creating a native interface for a specific device involves using the manufacturer's design system. This allows for a native design that matches the features and style of the selected device. Using a manufacturer's design system ensures consistency and improves the user experience, making the interface more intuitive and familiar to users.

What is "non-native" in

Designers sometimes deviate from the established rules of a design system, resulting in interface elements that don't align with the overall style. As a result, such elements become non-native to the design system and don't create a sense of unity. This is problematic, as non-nativeness hinders user interaction with the product and negatively impacts their perception. Aligning interface elements with the design system is critical to ensuring a harmonious user experience and increasing overall satisfaction with the product.

What is native and non-native user experience or process

Native user experience is a familiar, intuitive scenario of user interaction with the interface. This means that users expect certain behaviors and reactions from the system that are consistent with their previous experience. Creating native user experiences improves the usability and efficiency of interactions, which in turn has a positive impact on overall user satisfaction. Proper implementation of such interfaces increases engagement and reduces bounce rates, making them key to the successful design and development of apps and websites.

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An interface is a means of interaction between a user and a system, program, or device. It defines how a user will interact with a particular technology, making it easier to complete tasks and control features. An interface can be presented in a variety of forms, including graphical interfaces with buttons and menus, text-based interfaces, and voice or touch interfaces. Proper interface design ensures usability and intuitiveness, which significantly improves the user experience. Understanding the interface is important for developers, designers, and users, as it allows them to create more effective and accessible products.

• A native process or experience can be considered a transition to another page when clicking a link or opening a form when clicking a button that clearly names and encourages this action.
• Non-native is a previously unknown experience or process that occurs when interacting with a known interface.

A web page may have unique behavior, for example, scrolling up instead of down. Non-standard ways of interacting with elements are also possible, such as activating a link not by clicking, but by highlighting the text or hovering the cursor over it. These features can improve the user experience and make a web resource more interactive.

Total

Native design is a term that requires clarification, as its meaning depends on the context. To determine whether a design is native, it is necessary to consider what standard or expectations it adheres to. It is also important to remember that using native interface elements or following common styles and behaviors is not always the optimal solution for achieving the desired goals. Effective design must consider not only nativeness, but also user experience, the target audience, and the specifics of interaction.

Sometimes solving a problem requires misalignment, resulting in a new experience that can surprise and delight people. This is also an important task for the designer. The key point remains the appropriateness of such changes.

CEO of the mobile development agency InstaDev. Teacher of the mobile iOS development course at Skillbox.

The term "native" in the context of mobile applications comes from the English word "native", which means "native". In this situation, it refers to applications that are developed specifically for a specific mobile platform, such as iOS or Android. Native applications take full advantage of the operating system, providing high performance and an optimized user interface. As a result, they often offer a better user experience compared to cross-platform solutions.

What is a mobile platform?

Currently, there are two main mobile platforms - iOS and Android. Each of them has unique characteristics and features.

iOS, developed by Apple, offers users a stable and secure ecosystem. It is known for its intuitive interface and high level of data protection. The platform supports a variety of applications that undergo rigorous testing before publishing on the App Store.

Android, in turn, is an open platform developed by Google. This allows smartphone manufacturers to create devices with a variety of features and price categories. Android also offers users access to a large number of applications through the Google Play Market, but with fewer restrictions on content placement.

In general, the choice between iOS and Android depends on the user's preferences, needs, and habits. Each platform has its own advantages that make them attractive to different categories of users.

• Their own features in terms of processors and supported peripherals.
• Their own operating systems, after which the platforms are named.
• Their own tools for creating applications - IDE, an integrated development environment. The base for Android is Android Studio, and for iOS - Xcode.
• Their own sets of libraries for working with the user interface and device functions - geolocation, screen control, sound volume, camera, and so on.
• Their own programming languages. The main one for Android is Kotlin, and for iOS - Swift.

What are native apps?

Applications developed using the underlying programming language directly interact with system libraries to create an interface and perform operations on devices. Such applications provide high performance and optimization, as they have access to low-level functions of the operating system. This allows developers to efficiently use device resources and create faster, more responsive apps.

Key libraries for user interface development include UIKit, SwiftUI, and Jetpack Compose. These tools enable the creation of intuitive and engaging interfaces for mobile and web apps. For geolocation, the Core Location and LocationManager libraries provide access to the user's location data and enable the implementation of geographic features. Using these libraries significantly simplifies the development process and improves the user experience.

What alternatives are there to native applications?

Native applications are allocated in a separate category, which indicates the existence of alternative solutions. Alternatives to native apps include web apps and cross-platform apps. Web apps run in a browser and don't require installation on a device, ensuring easy access and updates. Cross-platform apps are developed using technologies that allow them to run on multiple operating systems, simplifying the development process and reducing costs. The choice between native and alternative apps depends on the specific needs of the business and the target audience. An alternative to native apps are cross-platform apps, developed using frameworks that allow for creating software for various operating systems. These solutions allow for faster development and easier support, as a single codebase can be used across multiple platforms. Cross-platform frameworks such as React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin enable developers to create efficient, high-quality apps that retain the functionality and user interface similar to native versions.

Today, the main cross-platform frameworks are:

• Flutter,
• Kotlin Multi Platform,
• ReactNative,
• Xamarin.

Cross-platform frameworks are designed to simplify the mobile app development process by allowing developers to create the same app for two major mobile platforms. These tools provide the ability to write code once and run it on multiple devices, significantly saving time and resources. Additionally, some cross-platform frameworks are also used to develop web apps that run in browsers. This makes them versatile tools suitable for both mobile and web development. Using cross-platform frameworks allows you to bring your product to market faster and simplify its support.

An additional layer of libraries is created, providing interaction with the interface and functions of devices on various platforms. This layer allows developers to effectively integrate and leverage the capabilities of different operating systems, simplifying the app development process and improving compatibility across devices.

This approach significantly saves developers time by avoiding reimplementing the same logic for each platform. Code sharing and universal solutions promote more efficient development and simplify the process of updating apps across platforms. As a result, developers can focus on improving functionality and user experience instead of wasting time on redundant work.

Cross-platform development offers many benefits, but this convenience comes at a price. There are also some disadvantages to consider. First, performance may be lower compared to native apps, as cross-platform solutions often require additional layers of abstraction. Second, issues with accessing device-specific features may arise, limiting the app's capabilities. Furthermore, supporting multiple platforms may require more resources and testing time to ensure proper functionality on all devices. Finally, cross-platform apps may not always meet user expectations in terms of user interface and overall experience. Therefore, it is important to carefully weigh the pros and cons before choosing cross-platform development.

• Apps may run slower than native apps.
• Not all features of native libraries are supported.
• There are limitations on the UI.

Bottom Line

Native apps are software built specifically for a specific mobile platform using tools and programming languages ​​specific to that platform. These apps provide high performance and access to all device functionality, including cameras, GPS, and sensors. Developing native apps allows developers to optimize the user interface and improve interaction, making them more convenient for users. These apps often offer faster response times and better stability compared to cross-platform solutions. Native apps are becoming an ideal choice for businesses looking to deliver the best user experience. Native developers are specialists skilled in developing apps that run natively on specific operating systems. These professionals create high-performance software using platform-specific programming languages, such as Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android. Native apps deliver the best user experience by optimizing for the device's features and capabilities. Cross-platform development is an effective alternative to native development. This approach significantly speeds up the app creation process by allowing the use of a single codebase across multiple operating systems. However, despite its advantages, cross-platform development has certain limitations that should be considered when choosing a technology for your project. Learn more about design by subscribing to our Telegram channel. Here you will find the latest news, helpful tips, and inspiration for your projects. Join our community and stay up-to-date with the latest design trends.

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