Designing The Ultimate Mobile App Architecture

The strength of a building lies in its foundation. Similarly, architecture is the backbone of any mobile application. Building better mobile app architecture is vital for the success of an app. Even the smallest fault in the architecture can undermine the quality of the app.

What is mobile application architecture?

Mobile application architecture is essentially a set of structural elements, techniques and patterns that enables developing logical and well-structured apps. These apps meet industry standards and customer requirements.

What Makes a Good Mobile App Architecture?

Apart from principles like SOLID, DRY, KISS, software developers also focus on clean architecture when it comes to app development.

Clean architecture implies that each app layer does not depend on any external programs or other layers. All the layers are connected using the dependency rule. Developers use boundaries to connect independent layers.

When it comes to building app architecture, app’s mobile platform (Android/iOS) also plays a crucial role. For successful android architecture in mobile application development, technologies and tools like Kotlin, Java, C/C++ programming languages, and Android SDK, Eclipse, Android Studio,etc are used. On the other hand, for development in iOS various technologies and programming languages like Swift, Objective-C,iOS SDK, XCode, AppCode are used.

A multiple-layered structure, app architecture design is executed in three different layers namely:

Presentation Layer

This layer mainly focuses on how the app will be presented to the end-user. While designing this layer, the team must:

• Find the correct end-user type complacent with the app infrastructure and design

• Consider deployment constraints of client

• Boost app security with robust data validation process and accurate data format

• Business layer

As the name suggests this layer defines the way business will be presented to the end-users. It covers aspects like:

• Logging

• Caching

• Validation

• Security

• Exception management

• Data Layer

This highly functional layer targets app security and facilitates secure data transactions. It should offer scalability to meet future business requirements. The data layer:

• Encompasses all the data access functionalities

• Manages all the data connections needed by the mobile application

• Handles CRUD (Create, Read, Update and Delete) operations and data sources

What is mobile app backend architecture?

An application comprises front-end and back-end. Being responsible for app responsiveness,data storage, security, and business logic, backend is a vital component of the mobile app. Essentially the backend architecture consists of servers, databases, and middleware.

Develop a sustainable mobile app architecture that makes your source code organized, maintainable and simple. This Herculean feat is made easier by using architectural patterns. Let’s take a look.

MVC: Model-View-Controller

One of the most common approaches to developing mobile app architecture, MVC separates user interface functionality from business/application/domain logic.

MVP: Model-View-Presenter

It is commonly used in Android and iOS app development.

Model View View-Model (MVVM)

An upgraded version of MVC and MVP, MVVM keeps the UI code simple and easily manageable.

Before you dive deep into building the right architecture for the mobile app, there are few factors you must consider

#1.Determine the Device Type 

It is pivotal to have complete knowledge about the devices that you want your app to support. The team must evaluate the device type and its characteristics before choosing/building a particular app architecture. During app architecture development, determining the device type is essential as every mobile app has its own software and hardware requisites

Important device characteristics to consider are:

• CPU characteristics

• Resolution (DPI)

• Screen size

• Memory

• Storage capacity 

• Availability of development tool framework

#2.Consider Different Bandwidth Scenarios

Don’t forget to take into account the internet connectivity scenarios in the demographic region where you are targeting the audience. Fluctuating internet speeds and limited net access negatively impacts the user experience with the user eventually abandoning the app.

Therefore,  it is essential to consider the worst possible internet network conditions during mobile app architecture development. Design your data access and cache mechanism keeping in mind slow and poor internet connectivity. Also, consider factors like power consumption and speed while choosing hardware and software protocols.

#3.Choose Optimal Navigation Method

App navigation plays a big role in determining the success of the application. It has a huge impact on user experience. Evaluate and analyze from the different navigation methods to find the best fit for your app while prioritizing customer needs. 

Some popular navigation methods are:

• Stacked navigation bar

• Gesture-based navigation

• Modular controller

• Single view

• Scroll view

• Search-driven navigation

• Tab controller 

#4.Define User Interface (UI)

You can explore the horizons of creativity and imagination when it comes to developing user interface design of an app. However, the thumb rule is to keep the UI simple, interactive and intuitive. Avoid clumsy and confusing UI lest the app might fail.

A multiple-layered structure, app architecture design is executed in three different layers namely:

(Layers must be named in the actual image)

Presentation Layer

This layer mainly focuses on how the app will be presented to the end-user. While designing this layer, the team must:

• Find the correct end-user type complacent with the app infrastructure and design

• Consider deployment constraints of client 

• Boost app security with robust data validation process and accurate data format

Business layer

As the name suggests this layer defines the way business will be presented to the end-users. It covers aspects like:

• Logging

• Caching

• Validation

• Security 

• Exception management

Data Layer

This highly functional layer targets app security and facilitates secure data transactions. It should offer scalability to meet future business requirements. The data layer:

• Encompasses all the data access functionalities 

• Manages all the data connections needed by the mobile application

• Handles CRUD (Create, Read, Update and Delete) operations and data sources

With over a decades experience in mobile app development our team has come up with some vital tips that will help you choose the best architecture for your app.

>Conduct a detailed audience analysis

>Understand the type of experience the user is looking for 

>Identify key functionality requirements of the users 

>Determine whether the app should focus on any particular platform or if all platforms are equally important

>Plan offline app functionality

>Consider factors like development time, skill set of the development team and industry-specific requirements the app should meet 

Architecture plays a crucial role in the success of any mobile app. Choosing the type of architecture depends on multiple factors like resource availability, mobile platforms, end-users. It can be a daunting task!

This is where we step in to help you with your development journey! Achieve your software goals with our wide spectrum of services.
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