Native Application
A native application is a software program developed for a specific platform or device (e.g., iOS or Android). Because a native app is built for a particular device and OS, it can leverage device-specific hardware and software. This can provide optimized performance compared to web or mobile cloud apps, which are more generic and functional across multiple systems.
Hybrid Mobile Applications
Hybrid mobile apps are built with a combination of web technologies used to build websites. They are hosted inside native applications that utilize a mobile platform’s WebView. (You can think of the WebView as a Chromeless browser window typically configured to run full screen.) This enables hybrid apps to access device capabilities such as the accelerometer, camera, and contacts. Access to these capabilities is often restricted from inside mobile browsers.
WebView Applications
Webview is a browser you can embed in native applications to display web content directly within the app. The infographic below shows the basic architecture of native, hybrid, and web apps.
