Cross-platform development involves building apps that can run on multiple platforms (e.g., iOS, Android) using a single codebase. Frameworks like React Native, Flutter, or Xamarin facilitate this process, offering cost-effectiveness and faster time-to-market. Developers write the code once and deploy it across multiple platforms, saving time and resources. The primary advantage of cross-platform development lies in its potential to reach a broader audience with a single app, as it caters to both iOS and Android users. Additionally, cross-platform development streamlines maintenance and updates, as changes can be applied to the shared codebase, eliminating the need for separate updates on each platform.
However, cross-platform development comes with certain limitations. While the frameworks have improved over time, cross-platform apps may not match the performance and responsiveness of native apps, especially for complex applications that require extensive hardware utilization or advanced graphics. Additionally, some platform-specific features may not be readily available in cross-platform development, and developers may need to implement workarounds or custom solutions to achieve the desired functionality.