Application requirements: what is a guideline?

In the modern and dynamic mobile world there are a lot of applications. If every application works by its own rules – main buttons located in different places and the reaction of the application is unexpected and unusual, the user will spend some time learning how the app works and get used to it. Also, a new functional of an application will probably contain a lot of bugs that will block the work of the main functional or can even be dangerous for the mobile device. Due to this reason, the stores of different platforms, such as AppStore and PlayMarket have some list of requirements for the applications before posting them online. These requirements are mostly based on the guidelines - a collection of the rules that are required to be applied while creating the application. They are the layout design requirements, user feedback principles, that the developer must follow while designing the app. 

Guideline is a list of recommendations, rules, principles from the developers of the mobile platform, operating system with the help of which the applications look and work properly on each of these operating systems and platforms. Human Interface Guidelines is used for apps on the iOS platform and respectively Material Design is used for Android.

The main requirements of the applications according to the guidelines:

Compliance with the platform

If the application is designed for Android, the Google requirements must be followed. If the application is designed for iOS, it must follow Apple Inc. requirements. In case if the application has a cross platform nature, the requirements of both companies must be met.

One theme and color scheme

The application must follow one color theme and color palette. The thickness and shape of the lines, the filling of icons, buttons, color combinations must be the same on all screens of the application.

Usage of autofill to minimize typing

Filling forms is not a very pleasant process on mobile devices, that is why there must be a minimum amount of fields to fill in. It is better to avoid fields that are optional or not required. It would be also nice to use an autofill which will fill the required fields automatically and the user will simply confirm the correctness of data.

Contrast

All elements must be contrasted, because blurred forms and similar colors of elements and background will simply make the user strain their eyes. Contrast increases the level of usefulness of the information and makes it easy to understand as well gives the feeling of steadiness and calmness.

Content readability

In comparison with a desktop, mobile applications have smaller screens. It means that in development, one of the main challenges is a desire to fit as much information as possible in the small screen of the mobile device. In that case it is very important to understand that the user won’t be reading the small and not understandable text. To raise the content readability, system fonts can be used, as they fit and adjust the spaсe and height of the font between the letters.

Brand recognition

If the application is a tool of some popular brands, it must consist of brand elements, such as special colors, mottos, fonts, animations, etc.

Optimization of the user interface elements 

The interface mustn’t be overloaded by the huge amount of elements. First of all, it makes it hard for a user to perceive an application and distract them from the calls-to-action buttons (ones that are bright and big) after tapping which a certain action is happening for which a certain loading screen is created. Next thing is that the applications are created for the mobile devices that are used in different network conditions, it means that the speed of the internet connection might not always be good enough to provide a stable and fast load of the big amount of the graphical content. Moreover,the mobile device can also have the background running processes, that's why the downloading of the app screen can increase.

Simple navigation

The user never thinks about the navigation, unless it starts to conflict with his expectations. The task of the interface is to be as inconspicuous as possible and facilitate the user’s actions. The navigation must be unified. It means that the buttons must be located in specific places and a certain action must be performed after tapping on them. Same it is with the buttons of the device. After tapping the «Back» button, right/left tap/up/down must perform actions on all screens. 

The main impression of an application is, of course, received on the stage of getting familiar with the design and the user interface, but the functional is also important. Therefore there are a huge amount of requirements to the functionality.

Apple store is very demanding with the rules in comparison with Google, which doesn’t check the applications sent to the approval too carefully. However, following the rules increases the chances of the successful release of an app. There is a list of requirements.

Security requirements:

• the application must not have access to files outside the application without the user's permission. Using the application, there are requests for permission to access the camera, gallery, microphone, geolocation, and so on. The user must decide, allow or deny the application access to additional programs. In iOS, this approach was implemented from the beginning. Android support has been added since OS 5;
• the application can be updated only through the official store;
• if the application uses the network, it does not use it through third-party browsers (applies to Apple);
• the application cannot use the message without the user's consent;
• the application cannot distribute personal information of users (for example, player ID) through Game Center;
• the application may not send spam, spread viruses or use other Apple platforms (Game Center/Push Notifications, for example) for these purposes;
• the built-in shopping mechanism cannot be used to purchase goods and services used outside the application.

Functionality requirements:

• the application must have at least some functionality. It cannot consist of one page and text, it cannot be just a song, a movie or a book - there are other platforms for this;
• functionality must match the description in the application store;
• the application should strive to store a minimum amount of data in iCloud. Everything stored in iCloud must be created by the user. Information that can be downloaded or restored should not be included in iCloud;
• banner ads should be hidden if ads are not available.

Freedom of choice and decency requirements:

• the application cannot restrict users in choosing geolocation or mobile operator;
• the application prohibits the use of outspoken material (violence, drugs, alcohol, tobacco) and should not be derogatory of individual ethnic or religious groups;
• the application must be honest. Its description must be true and all functionality must work as described. If the application provides diagnostic information, it must be reliable. This also applies to the genre and category in the store. Application icons must match and match it;
• the built-in shopping mechanism cannot be used to raise funds for charity (there is an SMS option only).

The article lists the basic requirements for creating quality mobile applications that will be easily accepted and published in application stores. Based on these rules, you can easily test the application for release or check if it needs to be finalized.