Software development · Beginner

Mobile App Development Basics

Explore app planning, screen structure, navigation, local data, APIs, testing, privacy and release preparation for Android and iOS.

minutes · Self-paced

Course overview

Explore app planning, screen structure, navigation, local data, APIs, testing, privacy and release preparation for Android and iOS. This expanded learning path includes additional applied workshops and a practical course project.

What you will learn

  • Plan an app around a real problem
  • Design screens and navigation
  • Understand app data and APIs
  • Test and prepare for release
  • Apply the skills in a practical project
  • Review and improve your completed work

Skills covered

  • Product planning
  • MVP definition
  • Screen design
  • Navigation flows
  • Data modelling
  • API concepts
  • Permissions
  • Device testing

Prerequisites

No previous experience is required. Practical exercises are included in every module.

Course modules

Plan an app around a real problem

Define the user, problem and smallest useful first version.

min

Design screens and navigation

Make each screen understandable and each journey predictable.

min

Understand app data and APIs

Decide where information lives and how services communicate.

min

Test and prepare for release

Check real devices, permissions, reliability and user journeys.

min

Design screen states and navigation

An app needs loading, empty, error, offline and success states as well as its ideal screens. Navigation should make common tasks predictable.

min

Model app data and API interactions

Apps may keep data locally or retrieve it from a server. APIs define how services exchange requests and responses; credentials and untrusted responses must be protected.

min

Plan device testing and release checks

Testing should cover screen sizes, device conditions, network failures, permissions and key journeys. Release preparation also needs privacy and support plans.

min

Scope an app and prioritise an MVP

A minimum viable product is the smallest useful version that can test the app's core value. Scope separates essential tasks from future ideas.

min