Cross-platform development definition

Cross-platform development is the ability to build and deliver apps that can run across multiple device platforms, such as iOS, Android, and the Universal Windows Platform. Beyond mobile, it is the process of creating software, applications, or services that can run on more than one platform or operating system.

Cross-platform development explained

Cross-platform development is the key to giving users software access across devices and platforms. In the past, it was enough for an app to work on a single platform, but today people expect apps that work across all devices and platforms. To stay relevant, companies will need to be able to provide employees with apps that run on any device—whether desktop, laptop, or mobile—and deliver seamless user experiences anywhere employees choose to work.

There are several different approaches to cross-platform development, including creating different versions of the same application, with each designed to work on different operating systems, such as Apple and Microsoft. Another popular strategy is to make specific parts of an application abstract in order to allow it to work within different software environments. This is often defined as “platform agnostic”, meaning the application doesn’t support any specific platform.

Cross-platform development enables companies to create low-cost custom apps that are secure, stable, easy to maintain, and easy to iterate—providing a faster development cycle that frees IT departments from the long timelines of traditional app development projects.