Low-code is a visual approach to software development that enables faster delivery of applications through minimal hand-coding.

The graphical user interface and the drag-and-drop features of a low-code platform automates aspects of the development process, eliminating dependencies on traditional computer programming approaches. Low-code platforms democratize app development, particularly for the “citizen” developers—that is, business users with little formal coding experience, such as business analysts or project managers.

These tools enable less technical employees to make a larger business impact in numerous ways, such as relieving IT department backlogs, reducing shadow IT and taking more ownership over business process management (BPM) workstreams.

With all that said, low-code development platforms also aid more seasoned programmers. Since they require little to no coding experience, they allow for more flexibility in a developer’s coding background. For example, some business applications require knowledge around a specific programming language, narrowing the selection of developers further. By eliminating this bottleneck, low-code platforms shorten the application development lifecycle, enabling them to accomplish more in a less time.  

A low-code model promotes rapid application development by making the user experience more accessible. Both citizen and professional developers benefit from core capabilities, such as a visual integrated development environment (IDE), built-in data connectors or APIs and code templates. All of this functionality of low-code tools improves the DevOps process, allowing more time for innovation.

Low-code versus no-code

Similar to low-code, a no-code development platform (NCDP) allows users to create enterprise applications through drag-and-drop interfaces instead of traditional hand-coding programming. Although many no-code platforms have great integration and configuration capabilities, the main difference is that no-code platforms lack the ability to extend the application with custom code.

Sometimes, researchers distinguish low-code versus no-code products by their target users. While low-code application platforms (LCAP) are broad in scope, catering to both professional developers and citizen developers, they may still require some coding skills. Therefore, low-code application platforms primarily serve full-time and part-time developers. However, no-code products are specifically targeted for business users, allowing them to create custom apps without expert development skills and knowledge.

A benefit of no-code platforms is that the applications built with them seldom contains bugs as all the features of the platform are pre-tested by the platform provider. This often limits the customization possibilities, but in turn results in high availability and quality.

Something to look out for when using no-code platforms is that while they can reduce shadow IT, they can also pave the way for it. If business users develop and edit software without any supervision or coordination, this can create additional workload to ensure that performance, security and compliance standards are met.