Mobile Emulator

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What Does Mobile Emulator Mean?

A mobile emulator is a resource for emulating or simulating a mobile device or smartphone environment. It allows developers to test URLs or other technologies on a mobile device’s operating system and display interface.

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Techopedia Explains Mobile Emulator

Part of the utility of a mobile emulator is related to responsive design, the idea that websites, Web projects and software products need to be able to work well on mobile operating systems and interfaces. A mobile emulator typically focuses on one specific mobile platform, for example, Apple iOS or Android.

Some mobile emulators are available online. By inputting a URL and choosing a device, users can get effective simulations over the Web. Other mobile emulators are sold out of the box or otherwise used offline.

The use of a mobile emulator is something that many experts consider critical for development. In addition to full-scale emulators that use simulated operating system source code, some other means of emulation are related to blueprints and schematics for early prototypes. Some experts have even suggested using a cardboard cutout and a paper feed to emulate scrolling on a mobile device. This helps developers get a feel for the layout and schematics of mobile products early on, before they actually start coding a project. With mobile device interfaces taking up so much "market share" in various parts of the tech industry, gearing products toward mobile is a major part of development and something that is very much valued in the tech community.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology expert

Margaret is an award-winning writer and educator known for her ability to explain complex technical topics to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles in the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret’s idea of ​​a fun day is to help IT and business professionals to learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.