While developing a mobile app for an individual or an enterprise we make sure to adopt the best practices in order to come up with a product which we can feel proud of. The best practices of mobile app development vary from app to app but there are some points which you shall always keep in mind while developing these apps.

Here is a list of best practices one must adopt while developing a mobile app:

1. Security of the app: All the apps involve some sensitive information or information which is private to the app owner and users. We need to keep the information secure in both the cases and that is why we keep the security as the first factor while developing a mobile app, not the last. Thinking of the security from the beginning means knowing what kind of input we will be dealing with, understanding the network components and communication mechanism so we can secure the data in transit.
2. Planning Ahead: We understand that even after having an agile team if we want to create reliable and successful code we need to plan ahead and hence our team plan ahead of the project, things like, choosing key pieces of the application framework and deciding how they will be implemented are done prior to project initiation.
3. Understand the Audience: The expectation of the people who will be using the app matters the most while developing an app. Who are going to use the app, the way in which they will use the app matters a lot and most of the development company seems to forget this factor, our team brings the users in the process at a very early stage of app development in order to make sure that the usability of app is at high index.
4. Functionality matters the most: Users like blinking lights and pretty pictures, and each week brings something new to improve the design of the app. But the fact is none of these matters as much as the functionality at the core of the app. Once the functionality is taken care of the interface will follow. Our team take care of core functionality i.e., essential business functions of the app. Our team makes sure that the interface to the backend database is locked down and the results returned to the app are correct.
5. No, users are not beta testers: It is unfortunate that users have become accustomed to work as the beta tester for all the apps. We do not want the users to test the apps that we make, instead, we prefer to do all short of testing before getting the app in the market. We test functionality, we test performance, we test security, and we test everything else that you can think of before getting the app in the market.
6. Performance matters the most: No one wants to wait while the app is functioning on command he/she provided times ago. Users want result right now and our development team makes sure that the apps. A lot of things can impact the performance of apps like the network, the server or the app itself. We design apps keeping the speed of the app in mind to make sure that our design enthusiasm doesn’t hamper the performance of the app.
7. API Management:  The process of publishing, documenting and overseeing application programming interfaces (APIs) in a secure, scalable environment is API management.  The goal of this process is to allow an organisation that publishes an API to monitor the interface’s lifecycle and make sure the needs of developers and applications using the API are being met.
8. Application Analytics: The mobile environment is not always connected. Thus monitoring clicks and other usage analytics is a challenge. Incorporating analytics features in your app to understand how users are interacting with it is a good idea. This will help you in identifying which features worked or which didn’t and whether users are interacting with the app the way you expected. Including, crash log is also advised, so that you know what goes wrong with your app when it is used in the real world.
9. Feedback Mechanism: Besides an automated analytics system it is also important to have a feedback mechanism for users. Give users a means – email, social media or others – to report crashes/bugs or offer insight into what they like/dislike in the app. This will not only reduce technical support issues but will also give you a clue for future app updates. Reviewing this feedback will help you in identifying features which most users want to see in the app.
10. Network and No Network Functionality: Depending on what the app’s functionality is we make sure that if the network isn’t available the data is stored locally and the app can still function for a while so that by the time network is back the device is running well.
11. Sizes of buttons and icons do matter: While working with the mobile interface, we have the limitation of space to use for different icons and buttons. Our design and development team makes sure that the app, when ready to use is well built and well-functioning on all the devices and the icons are neither too small to be missed nor too large to give a bad experience to users. After all the experience is what matters when it comes to define good and average app.

Building a successful app isn’t very easy but can be done if we take the time of walking through the right process. Understanding the purpose behind the app and the audience with the right mix of innovative design and good practices as mentioned above apps can be made to look and work well.

We at OutworX follow the best practices of mobile app development to make sure that the apps we develop are easy to use and function right to the top of expectation graph of end users and our client. Contact Us to know more about our development process and how we can help you with your business.