What Is No-Code Development? Building Apps Without Coding

No-code development lets nonprogrammers build simple yet productivity-enhancing business applications that can be used internally or made accessible to partners and customers. The biggest benefit: These apps go from idea to usability in hours or days, up to a few weeks at most. The cost is also generally extremely low, with the biggest expense being the time taken away from other activities.

For many tasks, no code—also called rapid application development, or RAD—is the way to go. Look behind many company web pages, or even entire websites, and you’ll find that they were built using no-code tools and platforms.

What Is No-Code Development?

No-code development is exactly what it sounds like: Building and deploying useful business applications without writing a single line of code. There’s no need for expertise in any of the application development languages used in traditional programming, such as Basic, C++, Pascal, or Java. That’s a substantial advantage since these special-purpose languages are difficult to learn and even simple tasks may take thousands of lines of instructions.

The best use cases for no-code development are straightforward tasks. Examples include gathering data for a project or an event or designing a dashboard that can pull and display data from an external source, such as an enterprise database. Results improve when the person creating the app knows the project well and is working closely with the people who will use it. Often, these applications are built for a specific short-term need and abandoned afterward. This quick spin up/spin down paradigm is impractical for traditionally written software, which can take months or even years of designing, writing, testing, and revising by a whole team of developers.

No Code vs. Low Code: What’s the Difference?

The paradigms we now call no-code and low-code development emerged in the 1980s. Both are intended to allow nonprogrammers to create software, but they take slightly different approaches.

With no-code development, a business power user is presented with a screen of graphical elements, such as search and form fields, checkboxes, and buttons. The user drags and drops relevant functional icons onto a visual canvas, wires them up with connectors to external data sources, and adds logic that can perform “if/then” actions and the like.

Many no-code platforms include templates that help make the application look professional. They may also include components that can generate graphs and charts or data collection forms, even add functionality such as postal code verification or some other type of data validation. The finished application typically runs within a browser on a desktop or mobile device, though it may look more like a mobile app.

Low-code development is very similar to no-code development. Both start with a visual design canvas, have drag-and-drop graphical elements, and offer templates for a more polished, professional design. Both approaches facilitate access to external data sources and result in software that runs in a desktop or mobile browser. These tools may also allow the program to be installed as a mobile app.

When deciding whether to choose no code or low code, consider the sophistication of the application. Low-code environments provide workflow automation, data integration, and logical building blocks that rival those of custom-built applications created by professional developers. These capabilities require app developers to perform some coding, but often in a simplified language that’s specific to that low-code tool and is easier to learn than Java or C++, for example.

The low-code development system—which, like no code, often runs in a browser—typically includes sophisticated tools for documenting the code design, as well as detecting, tracking down, and fixing bugs. You can also expect to find performance analyzers that help slow low-code apps run faster. Some tools even allow groups of employees to collaborate on building a low-code app. By contrast, no-code development is a solo activity.

A benefit of low code is that these apps can evolve over time, with new functionality being added as needs change. For example, many of the applications used internally by Oracle employees, and even those running portions of the Oracle website, are written in the APEX low-code environment.

Some training and experience are required to write apps in APEX and other low-code platforms. Low code may be simpler than writing code in C++ or Java, but—unlike no-code development—it’s not a case of “I’ll write the app after breakfast and deploy after lunch.”

Key Takeaways

• You can build and deploy apps using no-code tools in a day, or maybe a week if the app is complicated. Compare that to the months required for software written by an enterprise development team.
• To help keep your apps and data safe, some no-code tools can tie into your enterprise user authentication systems to control access.
• The costs of building no-code apps are low—far less than having professional developers tackle a formal project.
• With some no-code environments, you can supplement drag-and-drop tools with code as needed to add functionality, call external APIs, or perform complex operations.

No-Code Development Explained

While professional developers do use no code, these tools are geared toward less technical individuals who want to solve straightforward business problems. This could mean capturing information in a form, manipulating data to simplify a repetitive task, or adding an interactive lookup capability to an enterprise database, among other possibilities. The no-code application lives in the cloud or on an enterprise server, while the development environment runs within a browser, as does the finished app.

No-code platforms are generally cloud-based, though they may run on-premises. A business user establishes an account and logs in with enterprise credentials. The user then employs drag-and-drop visual development tools, generally running in a browser, to design the application. At that point, the app creator can specify the functionality of each design element, often by right-clicking and answering a few questions: Will it access an enterprise database? Which fields are used for searching? What happens when someone hits “save” after inputting new data?

At various points during the design process, the creator can assess the app to make sure it’s functioning as desired. With some systems, it’s possible to generate a web link so other employees or customers can test out the software as well.

Once the app is satisfactory, the creator puts the new software into “ready to use” mode, which publishes it to a web page. That page might be configured for access by anyone in possession of the URL, as with a landing page for a business or product . Or, the page may be restricted to authorized users, requiring a password or authentication via a corporate single sign-on system.

Typically, the no-code development environment will allow for minor changes once the application has been built and deployed. When the app is no longer needed—perhaps because a specific business project is finished—it can simply be turned off.

How No-Code Development Works

No-code development works due to three vital components: A software service, generally running in the cloud, that hosts the system and provides user accounts to app creators; an app development environment that consists of a visual design tool running within a browser; and the runtime for the completed app, which is published on a web page accessible via a URL. In some no-code environments, the app will resemble a native mobile application if an end user accesses it on a phone or tablet.

The major elements you’ll find in no-code systems are as follows:

• User-friendly interfaces and drag-and-drop app builders. The entire application is constructed in an intuitive and graphical way, wherein elements are dragged onto a canvas, positioned as desired, and configured with a click to include the appropriate functionality.
• Prebuilt templates. No-code systems include templates that can give the completed app a professional look and feel. They often mimic a native mobile app’s design on iPhone or Android or offer customization for company logos, color schemes, and other visual styles.
• Modules for advanced functions. These systems can include such sophisticated design elements as real-time chart and graph displays, secure integrations and searches in corporate databases, GenAI-powered chatbots, speech recognition, image capture from phone cameras, and QR code lookup.
• Integrations and APIs. Here is where the distinction between no-code and low-code development systems comes into play. Typically, some programming is required to allow an app to access enterprise software packages such as CRM, HR, online payment, or ecommerce systems. If you require such integrations, you’ll likely need a low-code system. However, some no-code environments do offer these abilities for a limited set of external services.

Real-World No-Code Examples

A no-code project starts with identifying a need that can be addressed by software but that isn’t so complex as to require a professional software development team or a formal process to create and approve specifications. This bucket can include building a website for a product or event, replacing spreadsheets for specialized tasks, developing business process automation (BPA), or providing a front-end form for a corporate application or database. No-code apps can give customers and partners an external view of corporate data, such as a portal where they can track their order status.

For specific real-world examples, check out the Oracle APEX no-code/low-code platform.

Benefits of No-Code Development

When an organization needs software right away, no-code development is often the best option. While not appropriate for building business-critical enterprise applications, no-code platforms are ideal for meeting more targeted needs.

Here are some benefits of no-code development:

• Accessibility for non-developers: Business users and managers understand what software needs to accomplish. In many cases, no-code development lets them essentially build an app themselves, without bringing in their organization’s software development team or competing for scarce technical resources.
• Cost-effectiveness: No-code tools may be free or included in licensed software that a company already uses. For example, many organizations that use Oracle Database receive APEX as a no-cost feature of their licenses. Even when there is a charge to license a standalone no-code platform, the costs are generally quite low.
• Encouragement for innovation: Business users regularly spot opportunities to delight customers or simplify workflows. No-code development offers a quick, easy way for them to build the tools they need as a proof of concept, at almost no cost except their time.
• Flexibility and scalability: No-code platforms provide a rich set of functions, enabling their apps to address many business problems. And because these apps are located in the cloud or on an enterprise server, there aren’t many limits on how much they can be used. Depending on the platform, there could be dozens, hundreds, or thousands of people working with the same app without any perceived slowdown or performance hiccups.
• Speed of development: From ideation through deployment, it’s reasonable to expect a finished no-code project within a week. In fact, depending on the project and the app creator’s experience with no code, a valuable app can be built in a single day. In most corporate settings, it would take longer than that to even set up a meeting with an enterprise development team.

How Does Artificial Intelligence Enhance No-Code Applications?

Artificial intelligence can enhance no-code development in two fundamental ways—by assisting with app creation and by enabling advanced functionality for app users.

Let’s talk about building an application. Imagine being able to describe what you want your app to do using natural language: “Build me a mobile app that lets employees check their PTO balance.” Generative AI can create an initial version of the application and then let you fine-tune it via more natural language: “Make this element bigger,” or “Add company holidays.” These capabilities are especially helpful when you need to create links to databases or other data sources, since generative AI can look up all the necessary references to tables, columns, and filters. You’ll find these capabilities in modern no-code platforms.

As for the application itself, you can embed AI functionality to enable chatbot interfaces, recommend additional data or actions based on the end user’s responses, recognize context for images, tap into machine learning systems, and even handle speech recognition and generation. In other words, your no-code application can provide the same rich user experience as any other modern application—except that you didn’t have to build the AI functionality from scratch. Instead, you simply leveraged the full capabilities of your development tools.

What to Look for When Considering No-Code Development Tools

Ready to give no-code development a try? Here are some features to look for when choosing a development platform for your organization. Note, though, that your organization may already have a license for a no-code platform. It’s worth considering that tool before seeking out alternatives.

• Access controls: Unless the no-code project involves building a public-facing web page or app, you should make sure that only authorized users can access it. That may mean getting your IT security team to sign off on your preferred no-code platform and issue guidelines for its use.
• Security features: If your no-code project captures data—any data—it needs the functionality to comply with your enterprise corporate data security policies and any relevant data sovereignty rules.
• Ease of use: If your chosen platform is too complex for business users to navigate without a lot of handholding and tech support, you’ll miss out on some key benefits of the no-code approach.
• Collaboration support: In a classic no-code environment, an app is built by a single individual. However, in an enterprise setting, you may wish to let multiple people collaborate on some projects. Is that possible with your prospective platform?
• Debugging tools: Some no-code platforms include debugging tools that rival those used by professional developers, while others don’t have any. Without debugging capabilities, you may be left wondering why your new app isn’t working right—or at all.
• Customizable templates: Will the finished apps be easy to use, professional-looking, and aligned to your corporate branding? If nobody wants to use your application, or if it looks amateurish, the output probably won’t be satisfactory.
• Scalability: You may need to check the fine print to find out how many creators can access the app, or if there are paid usage tiers. The free demo may look great, for example, but you don’t want to hit a wall if your app becomes popular.
• Integration with internal data sources: Check that the no-code platform supports the correct APIs and data access protocols to engage with your company’s data. If it doesn’t, your app builders may waste a lot of time on something that won’t ultimately work.
• Ability to add code: While there’s a lot you can build in a pure no-code environment, there may be times when you want to expand an app’s functionality with SQL statements, API calls, or JavaScript. Does the platform allow you to go from no code to low code without starting over?
• Artificial intelligence features: Generative AI is transforming development as we know it, so it’s no wonder that cutting-edge no-code platforms include AI modules. You can use powerful AI to analyze data, present information in natural language, and communicate via chatbot, among other capabilities.
• Community support: Many no-code platforms have robust user communities hosted online, where no-code app builders can take tutorials, ask questions, and get tech support. Be sure to check out these communities before deciding on a platform. For example, what’s the timeframe between a question being asked and answered? Is it acceptable to you?
• Optional paid support: Depending on the use case, there may be times when user-to-user support doesn’t suit your needs. Perhaps you won’t require paid support, but it may be useful to have the option.

Oracle APEX Lets You Build, Integrate, and Innovate More with Less Coding

Oracle APEX is an application development and deployment platform that supports both no-code and low-code app creation. You can use APEX to build new cloud and mobile apps, extend your software-as-a-service business applications, share data with customers and partners, and even turn old spreadsheets into new apps. And all those apps can be run in a browser online or on your secure intranet, or as a mobile app on a phone or tablet.

Because APEX is integrated with Oracle Database, in the cloud or on-premises, your no-code apps can turn data into information, with interactive reports that enable you to search for information, view that information in customizable ways, and even create graphs and charts. Security is fundamental to APEX’s design; the platform includes authentication systems that integrate with most organizations’ existing services, such as LDAP. APEX is designed to be secure by default, with parameter tampering protection built right in. There’s also a tool that helps check APEX apps for settings that might make them less secure, or that might have inconsistencies that can be exploited. Finally, APEX has a wealth of support—including tech support from Oracle, peer-led forums, training programs, and professional certifications. And when your power users have needs that they can’t handle out of the box, your company’s professional developers can extend APEX’s functionality using PL/SQL and other languages.

No-code apps built using visual development platforms can eliminate the need for traditional coding and allow people to create functional software to address real problems. This democratization of app development empowers citizen developers, accelerates prototyping, and reduces the time and cost associated with software development.

No-Code Development FAQs

What types of applications can be built using no-code tools?

You can build and deploy a wide range of apps using no-code tools. This includes apps to author web pages and websites, perform database lookups, create workflow automation, collect data for events, extend existing enterprise applications, and share information with customers and partners.

What skills do you need for no-code developer?

A no-code app builder doesn’t need software-writing skills but should be generally tech-savvy and comfortable working within a web browser. If the apps are going to connect to data sources, corporate or otherwise, the builder should also have some sense of how databases work.