HTML5 widgets become more common in mobile development

Application and website development have evolved significantly with the emergence of more programming languages and unique functions. HTML5 widgets are becoming more common among developers as the tools offer scalability for business growth. The coding protocol is quickly catching up to other popular options used for mobile apps and programs. As HTML5 continues to mature, it's expected to become one of the dominant languages developers use to create software.

Although HTML5 is still a relatively new coding language, more programmers are gravitating toward it for their applications. HTML development is rising among mobile functions in particular as smartphones and tablets become more common for personal and business tasks. ZDNet contributor Nick Heath noted that although many developers in Europe and the U.S. favor the iOS and Android development platforms, in countries with emerging mobile markets, HTML5 is the main priority. South America, south Asia, the Middle East and Africa all have larger HTML5 mindshares than iOS due to the cost effective nature of the software and the relatively low market share of iOS devices in the region. Across the globe, 37 percent of mobile developers are creating HTML5 applications while another 15 percent are building hybrid programs, allowing organizations to open up more possibilities for tools and features that will streamline operations.

"HTML5 is a popular companion platform, across all primary platforms," Heath wrote. "Among those developing primarily on iOS or Android, about 19 percent use HTML5 to display limited web content in their apps, for example documentation or elements that may require frequent updating."

Facing the challenges of HTML5
When using HTML5 form, developers will likely run into difficulties that must be overcome to create a successful application. Training Zone noted that because there are multiple layers of information, it makes testing HTML5 programs a significant issue, and the performance of the HTML project relies on the browsers for optimal functionality. The code can also be exposed to the user because the information is cached on their hardware, allowing them to access documents and view the programming. Because this could lead to significant complications in the software, obfuscating or minifying the code will help to protect the information. Obfuscating will mix up the code and make it unintelligible while minifying will attach small Java files. These approaches will make it more difficult for viewers to decipher, but the browser will still be able to run the program without needing to decrypt it. Before deploying the application, developers will need to thoroughly test it in order to ensure that it's user friendly and matches what staff need to simplify their work processes.

"Simulators can help in initial testing but the results they provide may not be 100 percent accurate," according to the source. "At best they are good for a first pass, but running an application in the real environment on the appropriate hardware allows you to see your application exactly as your users will see it. This is the real environment that reveals application performance and behavior issues."