Mobile apps are like icebergs

In my opinion, a mobile app is similar to an iceberg, in that there is an apparent part (the user interface or UI) and an unseen part (the code and functionalities underneath the UI). Even though the end user is the only one to see the finished product, this analogy often illustrates the amount of effort, complexity, and work involved in building and maintaining a mobile application, as shown in the following screenshot:

Figure 2.1 – A mobile app is an iceberg

When a user, for instance, downloads an app and begins using it for the first time, all they see is its interface, features, and functionalities. The user is unable to see much of what is going on behind the scenes, but it is much more important than they realize. A mobile application is connected to servers, databases, and APIs that allow it to communicate with other apps and devices, retrieve data, transmit data, and perform a variety of tasks.

A mobile app...