The Ionic framework is taking its own curve for developing creative and compelling mobile applications.
The Ionic framework is used to develop cross-platform mobile applications. And, with the latest announcement of the beta release of Ionic framework version 4, there is a lot more to come for the mobile app development industry.
But, why to choose Ionic for your mobile app development? I have a few reasons to prove.
Let’s check out the 13 concrete reasons that prove the Ionic framework to be the right fit for your next mobile app development project:
1. It is Open-Source
The first and even the strongest reason to choose Ionic framework is that it is an open-source framework. Nowadays, open-source itself means that it is completely free.
There are various frameworks available in the industry that has some handsome amount that they charge on a yearly basis. But, when you consider using the Ionic framework for your mobile app, there are no costs attached to using this framework.
Hence, the first reason gives you one strong reason to choose Ionic for your mobile app development.
2. It is Platform Independent
Sometimes, your developer or any other advisor might come up with a suggestion to develop your mobile app in HTML or JS or AngularJS. Well, you would be glad to know that the Ionic framework is platform independent.
Whether your mobile app is developed using any programming language, it works amazingly on any platform- iOS, Android, Windows and even on Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).
3. Built using AngularJS
We recently updated the reasons, benefits, and features of AngularJS, the most popular framework, and proved why it is the best front-end technology for any mobile app.
And, looking at the benefits AngularJS come up with, it is a cherry on the top to have Ionic framework built using AngularJS. AngularJS is considered to be one of the most creative app development frameworks.
The developers have all the flexibilities, compatibilities, and integrations to utilize of AngularJS while developing an app in the Ionic framework.
Hence, building your mobile app using an AngularJS-based Ionic framework, you are sure-shot to get a highly creative and interactive application.
4. Wrapped by Cordova
Cordova is a mobile application development framework by Adobe Systems.
Let me give you a background of Cordova-
Did you check out the benefits of Ionic framework? The Ionic framework uses Apache Cordova to access the device’s hardware and utilizes the functionalities a particular device has such as- contacts, geolocation, camera, etc.
And, this happens with the help of the plugins of Cordova. So, all thanks to Cordova that makes Ionic framework enough capable of developing a mobile app that is highly competitive yet amazing.
5. One App for Cross Platforms
There are times when you are unaware of your target audience. Or, maybe currently you don’t want to focus on having your mobile app on all the available platforms.
Well, that’s a wise decision though!
So, Ionic framework fits you the best in such situations. Using Ionic framework, you can have your mobile app developed for one particular platform or operating system at a time.
And, further, if you are looking to try your hands on other platforms, you can utilize the same app and publish across all the other platforms that too without making any major functionality changes.
That is the reason why Ionic framework is also considered as a hybrid mobile app development framework.
6. Amazing Native-like UI
Like we discussed above that the Ionic framework allows the mobile app development company to develop a mobile app for a specific platform or operating system, the mobile app is a Native app for that particular platform.
Considering that, your mobile app works exactly the same as your Native app would work on each of the platforms- Android, iOS or Windows.
But, app functionalities are not enough for a better user experience. You need to have an interactive user interface (UI) as well.
So, when you compare Native and Hybrid mobile apps, Native mobile apps win when it comes to highly interactive and engaging user interface (UI). And, as the mobile apps developed using the Ionic framework is like a Native mobile app, it has UI that is equally amazing as it would have in any other Native mobile app.
7. Reusable codes
Did you remember that I said that the app developer has to just create one app using the Ionic framework which can be published across multiple platforms?
Great! I shared that in the point #5.
So, how is that possible? It is with the help of the codes that are reusable within an AngularJS-based Ionic framework.
One of the core features of AngularJS is of reusable codes. In fact, in Ionic, once the code is written for any functionality that can be utilized across all the other platforms as well.
The developers don’t need to write different codes for different platforms. And, this is another strong reason to choose Ionic for your mobile app development.
8. Easy Testing
When a mobile application is developed using the Ionic framework, Cordova is used in writing test scripts to validate the quality and performance of the mobile apps.
Also, the test scripts written using Cordova is compatible for all the platforms. Hence, once the test scripts are written, those can be used to test mobile applications for Android as well as for iOS.
Also, unlike React Native, mobile apps developed using the Ionic framework does not need an emulator or real mobile device to test the mobile apps. The apps can be tested on any browser.
This marks as another amazing reason to choose Ionic for your next mobile app.
9. Automated Reload
You know there is a disadvantage of a Native mobile app that every time there is an update to the app, the entire Native app has to be reloaded.
But, Ionic framework removes this disadvantage and allows the mobile app to be only refreshed, and updated as and when the app is loaded on the server and even on the browser.
That means this saves a lot of time and makes it suitable for your next mobile app development.
10.Strong Community Support
When there is an open-source thing attached, a strong and huge community support is by default attached.
And, here in the Ionic framework, there are following things that are open-source-
- Ionic itself
- AngularJS
- Cordova
So, there are three communities coming in support of developing mobile apps using the Ionic framework.
That means the developers developing a mobile app in Ionic can easily switch to other fellow community developers to solve any complex functionality codes, design issues, bugs, etc. that might come up during the development cycle.
In short, the development does not stop at any cost. Again a strong reason to choose Ionic.
11.Developer-friendly Framework
Well, why am I calling Ionic a developer-friendly framework?
There are various reasons attached to the same-
- The Ionic framework is built on the top of AngularJS and that is most commonly used by the developers which make things easy for them to implement
- Developing mobile apps using Ionic allow developers to develop one app for one platform and can publish across multiple platforms
- They can reuse the codes that they had once written
- Ionic makes testing easy for the developers
- They are backed by the strongest communities
All these reasons help the Ionic app developers to stay focused, motivated, and updated to keep up with the latest functionalities that can make the app highly successful.
12. Faster Time-to-market
The reasons that I had mentioned above that makes Ionic a developer-friendly framework, all those reasons also contribute to developing your mobile app way faster.
- Reusable codes save the developers’ time
- Once, the app is developed for one platform, they can be easily published for any other platforms
- There is no need to reload the apps in the Ionic framework
- And, testing becomes easy and quick which saves the developers’ time
That helps developers to design, develop, test, and launch your mobile app faster. And, nowadays, everybody wants their mobile apps to be developed as soon as possible. So, Ionic makes it possible for you.
13.Lower App Development Costs
Our first point started with Ionic being an open-source framework and the default understanding of an open-source is- being free.
And, when the framework is free, there are no framework costs attached to your mobile app development. In fact, the reusable codes reduce the development hours and the easy testing reduces the testing hours.
Also, after developing your Ionic mobile app for one platform, if you are going to have it for another platform, you have saved a few thousands of dollars for your mobile app development for sure.
Final Words
The Ionic framework helps build your mobile app easily, quickly, and of high-quality. And, all the above reasons mark it as the perfect fit for your next mobile app development.
