Cross-Platform Development

A software development approach that allows a single codebase to run on multiple operating systems or device platforms, such as iOS and Android. Frameworks like React Native, Flutter, and Xamarin enable developers to write code once and deploy it across platforms, reducing development time and cost. For accessibility, cross-platform development presents both opportunities and challenges. It can improve access equity by making assistive applications available on more devices (avoiding situations where an app is iPad-only, excluding users who can only afford Android devices). However, cross-platform frameworks may not support all native accessibility APIs — for example, React Native supports basic features like alternative text but cannot capture screen reader focus change events, requiring native plug-in components for advanced accessibility interactions. Developers of accessible cross-platform apps should plan for hybrid approaches where most code is shared but platform-specific native components handle advanced accessibility features.