Application development, also known as software development, is the process of designing, creating, and maintaining software applications. These applications can be standalone programs or integrated into larger systems and can be developed for a wide range of platforms, including desktop computers, mobile devices, and web browsers.

The application development process typically begins with the gathering of requirements and the design of the application. This includes determining the functional and non-functional requirements of the application, as well as creating a detailed plan for how the application will be implemented. After the design phase, the application is built using programming languages such as Java, C++, Python, or JavaScript, depending on the platform and the specific requirements of the project.

Once the application is built, it goes through a testing phase, where it is evaluated for bugs and errors, and any issues are addressed. After the application has passed testing, it is deployed and made available to end-users.

Application development can be done using various methodologies such as Waterfall, Agile, Scrum, Kanban etc, which are used to manage the development process.

The application development process can be done by individual developers or by teams of developers, depending on the complexity and size of the project. Additionally, many organizations today rely on a mix of in-house development teams and outsourcing to third-party development firms to get their applications developed.