Blog Summary: This blog delves into how the interaction between the components of a mobile app architecture enhances a mobile application’s performance, scalability, and flexibility. It will give you insights into how the three layers of architecture send and receive data by implementing principles and key considerations you need to ensure a seamless user experience.

With the ever-increasing app market, the need for developing a spectacular mobile app that converts has become elementary. Mobile apps have three times more conversion than mobile websites. Launching an application gives you a competitive edge and positively impacts the conversion rate.

The mobile app downloads are projected to reach 143 billion in 2026, showing a massive jump from 111 billion in 2022 from the Google Play Store.

The app download market

These numbers speak a story that shows that the app download market is on the boom and will shoot only further. With the right mobile app architecture, you can enhance the chances of app visibility.

In this blog, business owners and tech leaders will gain valuable insights regarding the impact of implementing the right mobile app architecture and make a calculated decision while launching a mobile application.

What is Mobile App Architecture?

Mobile app architecture refers to the basic structures and elements used to design and build a mobile application ecosystem. It drives the movement of data on the user-interface and displays it in a way the user understands.

Let’s understand the process through an example: When a user waits for an app data to load on the screen, the mobile app architecture decides how fast and efficiently it will load. For a seamless user experience, this interaction of different components and app design is crucial.

Hence, before you start any mobile app development process, planning a strategic design for mobile architecture becomes essential.

Why Mobile App Architecture is Important? 

An excellent mobile app architecture design is crucial in maintaining scalability, speed, performance, and stability. Mobile architecture is platform-independent. Hence, it makes the application functionality easier to work and manage.

The advantage of using mobile app architecture is mobile applications do not directly access the database. The service layer accesses the database irrespective of the platform. 

A client’s requirements and expectations are unlikely to be met by a poorly chosen mobile app architecture. Ultimately, it can substantially negatively influence the client’s business. So, keep these factors in mind during the development process:

  • You could encounter obstacles that force you to go back and delay your project. 
  • The app might be prone to bugs and errors or app crashes, harming the user’s satisfaction and experience. 
  • Another challenging task is to interpret and test source code.
  • You could face problems in app maintenance and bug fixing.

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Mobile App Architecture Principles 

SOLID Principle

Flexible, agile technology is the foundation of scalable mobile app architecture. The SOLID principle establishes building recommendations for building scalable mobile app architecture. Hence, this principle is a benchmark for businesses to upgrade, update, and expand as needed.

KISS Principle – Keep It Simple, Stupid

Keeping simple logic and simple designs is the foundation for great mobile apps. Complex designs and logic increase the error probability. In the app development process, the KISS principle aids the developers in creating straightforward code, which decreases the probability of errors. Reduced errors help decrease the cost involved in the app development process.  

DRY Principle – Don’t Repeat Yourself

The principle itself says – Don’t Repeat, i.e., it promotes unambiguity. It says the logic or coding piece should not be repeated to reduce errors and retain simplicity. 

Layers of Mobile App Architecture

Layers of Mobile App Architecture

A mobile application architecture diagram is the visual representation of the structure and interlinking of components of a mobile app’s functionality. Essentially, a mobile app architecture diagram refers to the pictographic answer to the “Hows and Whys” of a working mobile app design.

Data Layer 

The data layer has access to the data of the mobile application. The data layer manages the data by storing, retrieving, data syncing, and data caching with the help of data utilities and service tools.

The data access layer reduces the data fetching time and increases the mobile app’s performance. Consistent and reliable data access and sources help improve the stability of the mobile app. Further, to improve the functioning, it diverges into two sublayers.

  • Persistence 
  • Network 

Business Logic Layer

The business layer denotes how the business is presented to the end-users. It is the layer with all the critical data and logic. Typical business layer construction involves the bulk of the application functionality. 

The layer majorly focuses on the back end of mobile apps. It includes data security and payment gateway systems. The business layer has multiple elements like workflow, components, and entities. The business layer is further divided into sublayers:

  • Domain model,
  • Service layer.  

Presentation Layer

The design and aesthetic of the mobile app are of utmost importance. What the user sees and feels is a decisive factor in UX design. The presentation layer displays the app’s user interface elements like visuals, audio, navigation, etc. It’s the driving factor behind increased user engagement by helping functional elements and designing the aesthetic of the mobile app.

How Does Mobile Application Architecture Diagram Visualize a Concept? 

Mobile app architecture serves as one of the guiding factors for defining the success of an organization’s software development strategy. A well-planned architecture positively impacts your long-term development goals and priorities. Here’s how: 

Identifying System Processes

A visual representation of mobile app architecture helps show the relation between the elements and processes. This comprises database management, software functionalities, user experience, and UX design. Hence, a logical diagram is helpful for the developers to visualize the mobile application concept, process, and development operations.

Allowing Feedback

The developer can add essential project notations and comments to help non-coders understand the idea behind the mobile app. A well-designed mobile app architecture diagram must be able to allow feedback through symbols, keys, graphs, and comments.

Gives Visual Context

Being visible to other team members encourages people to participate more actively in app development. Mobile app architecture will make mobile app development understandable to both software experts and non-coders. As a result, it helps influence the design stage of the development process and, ultimately, the final product.

Key Considerations Before Developing Mobile App Architecture 

Before starting the development process, an organization should ask the following questions:

  1. What mobile device should we use?
  2. What framework should we choose according to the device type?
  3. If a user lands in a no internet connection zone, will the user interface and experience collectively reflect an excellent mobile app architecture?

Device Types

The foremost and essential factor is the device type. You must choose the device type to consider factors like screen size, resolution, CPU characteristics, and storage memory (RAM and others). The architecture depends on the hardware and software, so it is necessary to consider these factors. You will have to develop the app for various devices and screen sizes while keeping in mind to be consistent across all platforms.

Developmental Frameworks

Frameworks are skeletal structures meant to help developers ease their app development process. Various front-end and back-end frameworks support the app architecture, which is elemental. 

Frameworks provide basic elements, libraries, and components essential in the interaction between software and hardware. Some prevalent front-end frameworks are React, Angular, Vue.js, Backbone, Bootstrap, and many others. Backend frameworks like Swift, React Native, Django, and others depend on the chosen programming languages. 

Bandwidth Scenarios

A successful mobile app works under all circumstances in an ideal scenario. But we know that is not the case. The mobile app should be created considering the user’s internet bandwidth so the app can work with low or no internet connection. App architecture and flawless development will get you an app “Working in all conditions.”

UI/UX Design

End-users are attracted to visually appealing designs, i.e., user interface (UI). Similarly, visually appealing designs create excellent user experience (UX). App architecture plays a significant role in getting great UI\UX designs. 

Each platform has a different architecture. For example, the architecture of iOS is different from Android. Hence, organizations should always consider the design guidelines released by respective platforms.  

Navigation Method

Navigation is the user’s first encounter with the design. A user-friendly and great UX design helps the users to navigate the app easily. Some common navigation elements are : 

  • Search element
  • Scroll views
  • Tab Controller
  • Gestures 

Push Notifications vs. Real-time Updates

One of the aspects to get clarity during the research and planning phase is the “need for real-time updates.” The updates can be expensive and sometimes annoying to the end-users. Hence, ensuring they are timely and relevant to each user is essential.

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Mobile App Architecture Types 

Mobile app architecture is classified into different types depending on the needs, devices, OS, and other factors. Choosing the exemplary mobile app architecture that suits your desired requirements enhances the core functionality of mobile apps. 

Android App Architecture

The most popular and most common OS used in mobile devices is Android. It is an open-source OS. The apps developed for the dedicated Android platform are Native apps. Android platform supports programming languages like Kotlin and Java.

Clean architecture is the most commonly adopted architecture for Android app development. 

The Clean architecture

This architecture enables the application to be independent of the framework and databases. It is built on the principles of layers and inversion control. The dependency inversion principle of the SOLID principle is applied here. The interface acts as the boundary, making the higher-level modules independent of the lower-level modules.

The information exchange in such architectures is carried out on the interfaces. So, the inner and outer layers are independent but can transmit data. This makes the app design more flexible and scalable.   

iOS Mobile App Architecture

iOS is the second most famous OS but aces the charts as the most secure operating system. Objective-C and Swift are two primary programming languages for iOS app development. 

There are two architectures.

iOS Mobile App Architecture

  • MVC – Model -View- Controller
  • MVVM – Model -View- ViewModel

MVC Architecture

This mobile architecture isolates the business logic that drives an app’s operation from the data presentation. The Model layer houses the data and business logic, whereas the View layer shows data to the user. The Controller acts as a mediator to communicate with the abstraction layer. It enables and helps developers with component reusability.

MVVM Model

First, managing user input is not the task of the View layer; instead, the ViewModel layer performs this duty. Second, the View layer can leverage the bindable attributes the ViewModel exposes to update itself automatically as data changes. This enhances modularity, testability, and maintainability. 

The recent developments in the app architecture landscape have extended to include state management libraries like Redux, MobX, and others. 

Cross-Platform Application Architecture

Cross-platform architecture resides in the idea of using a single codebase on various platforms. Utilizing a shared codebase can reduce development costs and time, which is its main advantage. Additionally, it may make the process of porting apps to new platforms simpler.

Cross-platform app architecture can also save cost since it frequently requires less effort and time during development. Cross-platform app architecture might also present some difficulties, such as the requirement to consider various screen sizes and resolutions. 

Hybrid Mobile Application Architecture

As the name suggests, the hybrid architecture combines Native and Web apps. It combines the performance and power of native apps with the efficiency and scalability of mobile web apps, giving users the best of both worlds.

Hybrid Mobile Application Architecture

Hybrid apps are created using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS to develop cross-platform apps that function similarly regardless of the platform. With a single codebase, they can operate on every platform, including browser and mobile apps, offering consumers the same rich mobile app experience across the web. As a result, hybrid apps may be created once and installed on any portable device.

Native architecture is platform-specific and uses the device’s features, hardware, and software. Hybrid architectures are typically more straightforward than native app architecture but lack the platform’s functionality and flexibility.

Enterprise Mobile App Architecture

Enterprise architecture is for enterprise-level companies that develop applications for smooth internal communication between employees and operations. One example is Salesforce using the enterprise architecture to enable swift communication, updates, and maintenance. Another example is the coffee giant Starbucks. Their app architecture is designed to make it convenient for customers to place orders. Additionally, Starbucks’ loyalty program is an excellent illustration of user experience and user engagement through apps.

How to Choose The Correct Architecture for Your Mobile Application? 

Selecting the correct mobile app architecture is a critical decision influencing the app development journey. It involves everything from customer needs, testing, core functioning, and budgeting. Understanding and becoming aware of significant factors like performance, stability, and scalability can significantly impact outcomes.   

Focus on the Customers’ Needs

Customer needs are the first and foremost priority. As applications are a means to solve customer problems, keeping in mind the customer needs in the research phase will lead you to the right path. 

Test App During Development

You can find and fix errors by testing your software before release. App testing is essential during app development because user feedback determines the software’s usefulness. Moreover, with app testing, you can launch a beta version before the final product goes live and enhance the quality based on target users’ feedback.

Enhance the Core Functions

Understanding the particular needs of the sector in which you will be operating is crucial before creating a clear plan for how you will technically create an app. Once you understand the needs, you may decide which technical strategy will work best. For instance, you must implement HIPAA compliance to create an app for the healthcare sector. Investing time in early planning may save time and work in the long run.

Skilled Development Team

Creating a successful mobile app requires more than just an excellent idea. Good mobile app architecture is one thing, and the skills of mobile app developers are another. Both these unite to produce a top-notch mobile app for the client. Hence, you require a group of skilled mobile app developers who can implement your idea.

However, evaluating your team’s readiness before the development process is crucial. Does your team have the expertise to develop an efficient app? Answering such questions will save you from making the wrong decision.

Budget and Cost-saving

Budget is always a constraint, but not when you want to grow. Mobile app development is an expensive process. However, there are a few techniques to save the costs:

  • You can launch an MVP,
  • Reuse components and
  • Utilize cloud services to manage the databases.
  • Wise resource management

Additionally, monitoring costs throughout development allows you to spot particular instances where you can save costs.

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Moon Technolabs Recommended Ways to Choose a Mobile App Architecture 

The intricacies of mobile app architecture demands help from professional and experienced app development company. Shaking hands with Moon Technolabs will give you a dazzling mobile app experience.

Our expertise in the app development industry gives us the competitive edge to suggest a few ways that helped several clients with high-quality products. Here’s what our developers have to share:

  • If budget is not your constraint, we suggest “Go Native!”. Yes, Native apps work better than other platform architectures. The native app uses the native features and components of the device, and app architecture works better around native platform architecture. 
  • Research your audience base to understand the platform used, needs, and requirements. Targeting and catering to your audience’s needs will help you select and choose the mobile app architecture. 
  • If you have an extensive Android and iOS user base, then choosing Native app development is a wise decision. But if you believe a shared codebase will offer you much sales, opt for Hybrid mobile app architecture. 

Launch Your Mobile App With Moon Technolabs

The app architecture of any mobile application is essential to its success. It is pivotal to consider what features to include, how to implement them, and what other things can be added to make the application stand out.

Several other aspects, like the type of end users and the kind of mobile platforms, influence the architecture type. Working with an experienced app development company smoothens the process and helps with all your needs. They can better advise you on which mobile application architecture is most suitable to your needs or which feature will optimize the look of the mobile application. 

Whether you choose to Go Native or Be Hybrid, Moon Technolabs caters to all your custom software development needs, app development needs, and web app development needs.

FAQs

01

Why Mobile App Architecture is Important for Business?

A good mobile app architecture reduces the response time with cost savings. It works on performance, scalability, and maintainability to give an ideal output.

02

What are the three layers of Mobile app architecture?

The three layers are the Presentation, Business, and Data layers. These three layers fulfill different responsibilities in the mobile architecture.

03

What are the Different Mobile Architectures?

Some of the other mobile architectures are Android architecture, iOS architecture, Cross-platform architecture, Native architecture, Hybrid architecture, and Enterprise architecture.

04

What is the Ideal Mobile App Architecture to Design a Great Application?

Being on point with your mobile app needs is a must. What you want in the application will be the base for the app development building. There are many options, but decide on your device types, budget, OS, and mobile app developers team, and you are an app development company away from a top-notch application.
About Author

Jayanti Katariya is the CEO of Moon Technolabs, a fast-growing IT solutions provider, with 18+ years of experience in the industry. Passionate about developing creative apps from a young age, he pursued an engineering degree to further this interest. Under his leadership, Moon Technolabs has helped numerous brands establish their online presence and he has also launched an invoicing software that assists businesses to streamline their financial operations.