Term "native"derived from the Latin word" nativus "meaning" born "or" natural. This word in turn comes from the verb "nasci", which means "to be born". Thus, "native" means something that is innate or native to a particular environment or context.
In different languages, the word "native" can have similar meanings. For example:
In English, the word "native" is used to refer to something natural or native to a certain area, culture or technological platform.
In Ukrainian, "native" has a similar meaning and is used in the context of the native or natural state for something.
This term is actively used in many fields (IT technology, linguistics, marketing, etc.), where it is important to emphasize the originality or naturalness of a certain object or phenomenon for a specific environment or context.
embedded development
What does Native mean in IT?
The term is used to describe software or applications that have been developed specifically for a particular platform or operating system. For example, a native iOS app is written in Swift or Objective-C, while a native Android app uses Java or Kotlin languages. You can also read a previously published post - What is native machine code.
The main characteristics of native software are high performance, access to all possibilities.
Native applications usually work faster and more efficiently because they are platform-optimized. Applications can also use all the functions and capabilities of the platform, including access to hardware such as camera, GPS, and others.
That is, native software - knows how to use all the capabilities of the platform, because it is native to it.
NOT native software - uses adapters, virtual machines and other tools to adapt to the platform. This is what makes non-native applications slower and/or more limited.
Examples:
Native mobile apps are developed specifically for iOS or Android.
Desktop applications: Native applications for Windows, macOS or Linux are developed taking into account the features of these operating systems.
Web applications: Although web applications are not generally considered native, there are native browser components or extensions that are being developed for specific browsers.
The choice between native and cross-platform solutions depends on many factors, including performance requirements, budget, development timelines, and target audience.
The term can also be used in relation to (native) API - programming interfaces provided by the operating system or platform, and allow developers to create programs using native functions and services.
This term is quite universal and can be used for many things. Data, libraries, interfaces, etc. I think the essence is clear.
Nativity in other areas
The term can be used not only in the context of software, but also in many other fields and contexts. The most popular examples are language and advertising.
Native advertising is advertising that integrates into the interface and functionality of the platform where it is placed. It looks like part of the content, unlike traditional banners or pop-ups (which have an unnatural appearance and can advertise a product that is not even relevant to the content of the page/app).
Native languages are native languages spoken by people from a particular country or region. For example, Ukrainian is a native language for residents of Ukraine.
