Updated March 18, 2023
What is Ionic Framework?
Ionic Framework is an open-source UI toolkit that allows high-quality mobile and desktop applications to be developed using web technologies. Ionic Architecture is based on the application’s interface or user experience. It is easy to learn, easy to integrate, or used standalone without a front frame using a simple script including other libraries or frameworks, such as Angle. This Framework currently has official Angular and React integrations, and support for Vue are in the pipeline. We’ve created a video to guide you through the basics of the Ionic Framework before diving.
Why Should we use the Ionic Framework?
- The ionic framework does not introduce anything out of the box. Web technologies are familiar. Hence the user’s time is not wasted learning new technologies or languages.
- The apps can be deployed anywhere, even in a virtual environment using the Ionic framework.
- The code has to be written only once, be it android, Windows, iOS. Hence time is saved during development to eliminate bugs.
- The ionic framework helps to build the apps really fast and makes it really easy.
- Ionic uses all the simple technologies like HTML and CSS for its web page development, making the framework UI easy for developers since it is known by many.
- Logic layers of Ionic are made of Angular, which is known by most developers. Hence mobile app development is made easy by Ionic.
- Ionic has proper desktop layouts, which makes it desktop-friendly. It has a grid and flexible pane-like structures to layout the application, which is the desktop version.
- It has open web technology, and it does not compete with frameworks that use single platform technologies.
- The web apps used in the Ionic framework are updated and available in the play store. Hence it is useful to the developers.
- The community of the Ionic framework is really strong, which helps developers to ask questions and receive feedback promptly.
- Also, there are many tutorials, books, and videos available for the Ionic framework that help the developers to start anything from scratch.
- The web components in Ionic help to construct the User Interface faster than any other framework.
- Since binary modifications are not needed in Ionic, the deployments are faster.
- The framework works with web technology.
- Ionic supports Progressive Web App (PWA), and hence it is platform-independent. Also, it has many features that are not present in other frameworks, such as notifications, hardware access, working offline, etc.
- Ionic has a stable version that supports many programming languages under Angular.
- By adding a script tag, the Ionic framework can work with any JavaScript.
- We can call Ionic as a hybrid combination as it is the combination of native and web components.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Ionic Framework
Here we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of the Ionic Framework
Advantages
The Advantages are as follows:
- Ionic is the number one option by developers as it supports all the platforms like android, Windows, iOS.
- Most developers know HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and hence it is easy for them to develop the framework.
- Angular is integrated into Ionic, which is a good framework to use along with JavaScript. There are other options for those developers who do not want to use Angular.
- In order to go along with the look of the platform it supports, Ionic can change its own looks.
- The desktop application can be completely turned to mobile applications in Ionic.
- It uses plugins, and if it does not work in the native environment, plugins will help manage the framework.
- It uses only one programming language for all the operating systems in mobile devices.
- Ionic is good at developing the server-side of the system as most of the well-known web technologies are used.
- Plugins are used in the Ionic framework.
- The quality of Ionic is good, and it is maintained well.
- The graphics used are that of iOS. Hence the graphics are nice for those who like that style. On the other hand, material Design is available for those who don’t like iOS style.
- The apps are graphically edited in the Ionic framework.
- Many extra features like push notifications, PWA support is available in Ionic.
- It has themes for each app, and hence the apps do not look alike.
- Ionic is faster when compared with other frameworks.
- It is easier to build apps with Ionic as each app does not require an API, and individual features are not needed for the app to get released.
- The cost of the Ionic framework is less. Ionic Command Line is used in the framework.
Disadvantages
The Disadvantages are as follows:
- Since a single code server is used for all the platforms, the framework may hang in between.
- The transition to each platform is hard in the Ionic framework since each platform requires different treatments.
- Debugging the application is a bit tough in the native platform as some plugins are supported only in web components.
- If the app uses hardware that has never used the plugins, Ionic will be of no use for the current platform.
- The graphic performance is not up to the level as it uses only CSS3. This may be an issue for mobiles above the iPhone 4.
- Ionic is not good in 3D or in developing video games.
- Plugins are not available for everything, and hence developers should write codes that work like plugins for the operating systems.
- When the performance of Ionic and native apps are compared, the performance of Ionic is not as good as the native apps.
- Security of the apps built-in Ionic is an issue, especially for banking or finance, as it is not fully assured.
- Integration within the apps may not be faster than expected for the execution of the apps.
- Starting the application takes time for Ionic when compared with native apps.
Apps are built in an elegant and comfortable style in the Ionic framework. The cross-platform facility helps Ionic to manage all the platforms with a single codebase. The UI and themes are managed perfectly well in Ionic.
Recommended Articles
This is a guide to What is Ionic Framework?. Here we discuss why we use Ionic frameworks along with the advantages and disadvantages of it. You may also look at the following article to learn more –
