What are No-Code and Low-Code? Pros and Cons

In this article, we will tell you what no-code and low-code are and how different they are. We will also analyze the pros and cons of this approach to coding compared to conventional programming.

In case you hesitate about which option is the best for you, the information provided in this article will help you make the right choice.

What is No-Code

The no-code approach literally means no code. That is visual programming: when an IT product is developed by dragging and dropping elements (drag-and-drop method): buttons, text blocks, symbols, forms to fill out, shapes, images, or whatever any website or application consists of.

There is no need to write code. You get ready-made elements written in code beforehand – and the code itself remains behind the scenes. Users can customize product appearance, build a database, and set the logic for using the app.

No-code platforms are easy to use. They are a variety of design kits for building apps. No-code services focus not on coders but, for instance, on marketing experts and startups. Such tools serve the purpose of building functional products meant for solving specific problems.

What is Low-Code

Low-code approach literally means some code. This process presumes that engineers may write some code chunks for the product under development. Note: they may but do not necessarily have to. As with no-code applications, low-code platforms allow you to build apps by dragging and dropping elements rather than writing code from scratch. However, an option to code some elements makes the low-code approach more flexible.

A low-code method is a golden mean between classical coding and no-code development because developers can code some functionality and appearance of the product being developed. It literally means they manually write a part of the code and thereby expand app functionality — that means the code is open.

Some low-code tools include ready-made code templates, for instance, code for a button. Developers copy and reuse code. This approach makes development easier and faster.

Low-code platforms serve to facilitate development and, as a product, focus on people with coding experience. However, you do not have to be a coder to use them for their intended purpose.

“Civilian developers” (users with no development experience) also use such platforms to create fully functional complex apps.

Pros and Cons of No-Code and Low-Code Compared to Conventional Programming

The advantage of these methods is that you can effortlessly learn how to use dedicated software even with no coding experience. The threshold for entering the IT market via no-code and low-code is low. Consequently, this endeavor often becomes a cool start for mastering a new occupation.

Using no-code and low-code approaches, developers build apps for broad public use. Apps for online training and coaching, communication services like chatbots, small social networks, booking and delivery services, and online stores are among the best examples.

No-code and low-code pros:

• Simple to learn and low entry threshold;
• High development speed and low costs;
• Flexibility for quick business model change when necessary;
• Suitable for solving one separate task without involving third-party developers.

No-code and low-code cons:

• Scalability limits;
• Functionality implementation restrictions;
• Safety issues;
• Platform dependency.

No-code and Low-code are simple and hence accessible to business developers like non-IT specialists, marketing experts, designers, business analysts, etc. Therefore, the primary purpose of the approaches is to quickly complete small tasks like automation, integration, data collection, and data analysis.

Ease and speed of product development are both crucial in this matter: things that could engage a whole team of software developers for half a year can be ready to use in a couple of weeks when you utilize no-code and low-code tools.