For most users, hybrid apps function like native apps: generally, both can be downloaded from an app store, installed, and then used on a mobile device. As with native apps, there’s a wide selection of hybrid apps on offer, including both small and large programs for very different purposes.
But differences between the two apps begin to emerge during the installation process: when downloading hybrid apps, the device creates a native framework rather than installing the complete program. When the user opens a hybrid application, this happens via a browser-like interface – almost like with a web app.
Web apps use a normal web browser, whereas WebView is used to create hybrid apps. The WebView system runs and displays web content within the app, but without a URL bar or any other typical browser elements. The way that online content is displayed in a hybrid app is the same as the user interface of an ordinary native app.
In addition to the WebView component, hybrid apps are based on JavaScript, CSS, and HTML, or most often, HTML5. This foundation is another thing that the apps have in common. Ultimately, a hybrid app is a web app that is integrated into a native app, meaning hybrid apps take on the strengths of both app formats.