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Monday 21 September 2015

What is Apache Cordova and Ionic Framework

In this post we are going to discuss about Apache Cordova and Ionic. You might be hearing the term Apache Cordova and Ionic Framework a lot in recent times. So What is Apache Cordova and What is Ionic Framework. How Apache Cordova is connected to Ionic Framework or What is the relationship between Apache Cordova and Ionic Framework. We will be answering these above questions in our blog post.

What is Apache Cordova ?

Apache Cordova is a software which binds the web application and native application together. Along with that it provides a set of APIs written in JavaScript to interact with native features of the device (for example mobile device). According to Apache Cordova website :
Apache Cordova is a platform for building native mobile applications using HTML, CSS and JavaScript. Apache Cordova is a set of device APIs that allow a mobile app developer to access native device function such as the camera and accelerometer from JavaScript. Combined with a UI framework such as jQuery Mobile or Dojo Mobile or Sencha Touc, this allows a smartphone app to be developed with just HTML, CSS and JavaScript.
For better understanding of Apache Cordova, lets have a look at the following image.


On the top we have a web view where HTML, CSS or JavaScript code gets executed. Then we have a Apache Cordova APIs which pairs with the Web View and then talk to the Mobile OS in its native language thus providing a bridge between Mobile OS and Web View. Mobile OS is the Operating System (iOS, Windows or Android). The native language is like Java for Android, C# or C++ for Windows etc.

Thus now you are familiar with how Mobile Hybrid Apps are structured and how you can use the device features from the Web View.

What is Ionic Framework ?

Ionic is a beautiful, open source front-end SDK for developing hybrid mobile apps with web technologies. Ionic is free and open source, and it also offers a library of mobile-optimized HTML, CSS and JS components.Ionic uses AngularJS as its JavaScript Framework. According to Ionic Website :
Ionic is focused mainly on the look and feel, and UI interaction of your app. Ionic is here to simplify one big part of your app : the front end. Ionic currently requires AngularJS in order to work at its full potential.
How Apache Cordova is connected to Ionic Framework ?

Ionic build on top of Cordova. Apache Cordova takes care of packaging your HTML5 app as a native app that can run in Android, iOS and Windows. So w can say that Ionic Framework is nothing but a Web View in our previous example. Where Ionic Framework talks with Apache Cordova to get information about Mobile Operation System. Apache Cordova is the bridge between Ionic Framework and Mobile OS.

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1 comment:

  1. Very good and effective page for beginners in ionic framework. Helped me to understand Ionic concepts in a more simple way.

    ReplyDelete