What is Low-Code and No-Code?

Note: This article was last updated on August 7, 2025, to ensure all information is up-to-date.

Key Takeaways

• Low-code and no-code platforms empower business users to build applications quickly using visual interfaces and pre-built components, reducing reliance on traditional coding and professional IT teams.

• The primary difference is that low-code requires some basic coding for advanced customization, while no-code is designed for users with no coding experience.

• Beyond speed, these platforms provide strategic benefits, including reducing development time by up to 90%, accelerating innovation, and increasing business agility to respond to market changes.

• The rise of citizen developers – everyday users who build apps – enables organizations to solve problems faster and from the front lines, while also fostering collaboration between IT and business teams.

• To succeed, businesses must manage challenges like shadow IT by establishing a clear governance framework, providing adequate training, and choosing a platform with robust security and integration capabilities.

Why should businesses use low-code or no-code development?

Low-code and no-code development are methods for building business applications faster without needing in-depth coding knowledge. This is particularly important in organizations where change happens quickly, and each individual business user must be able to make system edits independently.

Working with minimal coding experience, users can leverage graphical user interfaces and drag and drop features, to rapidly create and deploy the solutions they need in a fraction of the time.

The key difference between low-code and no-code development is that low-code platforms typically require some basic coding skills or programming knowledge for advanced customization, while no-code platforms are designed for users with little to no coding experience.

Why Low-Code/No-Code?

Ever needed an app or form created, but the request was delayed because the IT team was too swamped?

As the demand for digital solutions increases, businesses need to decrease their time-to-market. But traditional coding takes time, and IT teams can only handle so much. That’s where low-code and no-code capabilities come in to enable business users outside of these teams, making it easier for anyone in the organization to build apps without coding expertise. Low-code platforms can create applications for critical business processes, while no-code is generally limited to tactical apps for simple functions.

How Low-Code/No-Code Platforms Work

Gartner research says, on average, 41% of employees outside of IT – or business technologists – customize or build data or technology solutions. Gartner also estimates more than 65% of all business applications are already built using low-code. So what is it that makes low-code or no-code solutions so powerful?

A traditional coding approach relies heavily on manual coding and usually requires longer wait times. Low-code/no-code capabilities, however, minimize the need for these skills and speed up development by providing pre-built components and intuitive visual interfaces. In addition, pre-coded modules, forms, objects, workflows, and design patterns give non-technical, everyday business users the ability to create custom applications and automate business processes. Users can even extend functionality as needed without deep programming expertise.

Low-code lets users define the steps and agents required to move processes forward.

This table clearly outlines the key differences between low-code and no-code platforms:

Benefits of Low-Code/No-Code Platforms

Beyond empowering business users, low-code and no-code platforms deliver a wide range of strategic benefits that impact the entire organization. Their ability to accelerate development and streamline operations is so compelling that, according to research, 69% of professional developers prefer working with low-code enhanced platforms.

These platforms offer several key advantages:

Efficiency Gains

Low-code app development is a powerful method for achieving efficiency gains, as it allows organizations to build applications without the need for extensive coding. Low-code/no-code solutions can reduce development time by up to 90%. This dramatically accelerates the software development lifecycle, leading to greater efficiencies for the organization as a whole.

Innovation Acceleration

80% of organizations state that empowering other users to develop has given IT departments more time and resources to focus on other initiatives. Low-code and no-code platforms can also accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies such as Machine Learning (ML), enabling organizations to quickly deploy ML models for automation and smarter decision-making. But low-code and no-code capabilities don’t just save IT departments time for high-value projects; the faster development times also enable rapid prototyping, quicker iterations, and more efficient app delivery.

Business Agility

Rapid iterations also allow businesses to test new ideas and adjust their strategies on the fly. Among IT teams using low-code solutions, business units were 21% happier with lead times than those without low-code. Plus, by reducing reliance on traditional coding and expensive, time-consuming professional developers – and eliminating the need to learn programming languages – organizations can adapt to market shifts and internal changes more quickly.

Cost Savings

Without the time and resources required to organize or outsource a large team of developers, businesses can save on operating costs while streamlining the development process. Moreover, low-code and no-code solutions, including no-code tools that enable cost savings through visual programming and drag-and-drop interfaces, simplify maintenance and updates to minimize the ongoing expenses associated with a custom application.

Flexibility in Integration

Flexible integrations are at the heart of any low or no-code solution, enabling seamless connections and process automation across various systems and data sources. With pre-built connectors and APIs, the applications developed in these environments can easily adapt as the company evolves to ensure continuity and efficiency.

Risk Mitigation

During the development stage, low-code/no-code solutions can also help mitigate risks by providing a controlled environment with pre-tested components and standardized processes. Not only does this improve accuracy by minimizing the likelihood of human coding errors, but the right solution can also reduce the risk of data breaches and non-compliance – just be sure your solution has robust security features in line with industry standards.

Strategic Technology Adoption

Last but not least, low-code/no-code capabilities are pivotal for strategically adopting new technologies. Users can skip the steep learning curve associated with complex programming and, without needing advanced programming skills, rapidly deploy innovative solutions to stay current with emerging trends and demands. This allows businesses to future-proof their systems, laying a strong foundation for ongoing digital transformation efforts.
 

Low-Code in Liferay DXP

To help business users create engaging digital experiences without relying on their IT teams, we have many new low-code capabilities in Liferay DXP.
Request a Demo to see the capabilities live!
 

Development Platforms for Low-Code and No-Code

Development platforms for low-code and no-code are designed to make app development accessible to a wider range of users, regardless of their coding knowledge. Low-code platforms provide more flexibility and customization options, making them suitable for building more complex applications that may require some coding. In contrast, no-code platforms are usually tailored for users who want to create simple apps without writing any code.

When selecting a development platform, it’s important to consider factors like ease of use, scalability, integration capabilities with existing systems, and robust security features. The right platform can accelerate app development, streamline business processes, and ensure that applications meet organizational requirements for security and performance.

Citizen Developers and the Rise of Low-Code Platforms

The rise of low-code platforms and no-code platforms has given birth to a new wave of innovators – citizen developers. These are everyday users – project managers, marketing specialists, operations staff – who, thanks to low-code development and no-code development features, can build internal tools, automate business processes, and address unique business needs quickly without relying on traditional IT teams. Or in short: They are able to solve real problems in hours instead of weeks.

Unlike traditional app teams, citizen developers:

• Own their solutions end-to-end. They don’t just hand off requirements; they design, build, test, and iterate their own tools. This direct involvement boosts user satisfaction, since the person who experienced the pain point is also crafting the solution.

• Form a grassroots center of excellence. As more citizen developers emerge, organizations often see organic “champions” who share tips, create templates, and mentor peers. Formalizing this into a Citizen Developer Guild or CoE helps scale best practices, from naming conventions to security checklists.

• Drive measurable ROI. Early adopters report a 3–5× faster turnaround on department-level application requests. By tracking time saved and process improvements – rather than lines of code – leaders can quantify the financial impact of empowering non-IT creators.

• Balance agility with governance. To prevent “shadow IT,” enterprises layer in lightweight guardrails: approval workflows, version control, and role-based permissions. This ensures citizen-built apps meet compliance standards while preserving fast delivery.

• Tap into ecosystems and marketplaces. Modern low-code platforms offer built-in marketplaces of plug-and-play components, everything from chart widgets to ecommerce connectors. Citizen developers assemble pre-built modules rather than starting from scratch, further accelerating time to value.

• Cultivate continuous learning. Successful programs blend on-demand video micro-lessons, peer office hours, and bite-sized certifications. As users level up, they graduate from simple forms to multi-stage workflows and integrations, expanding the scope of what “citizen-built” can achieve.

By investing in the people and processes that support citizen developers – training cohorts, reusable templates, and a clear governance framework – organizations turn these accidental innovators into a sustainable engine of rapid, secure, and cost-effective application development.

“I think [low-code platforms are] probably the most important technology tool that CIOs need to look at. We do not have enough staff and our staff who are strong at AppDev really need to focus on the customer-facing pieces that are going to move the needle.”
Isaac Sacolick, founder of Driving Digital, [via zdnet.com]

However, to ensure the success of citizen developer initiatives, organizations should provide adequate training and support. This helps maintain security, scalability, and quality across all apps built using low-code and no-code platforms.

When Do Businesses Use Low-Code/No-Code? 

Although low-code/no-code capabilities vary across vendors, businesses commonly use them to build end-to-end solutions such as:

• Simple business applications like HR employee reviews

• Landing pages to attract and retain new customers

• Content management systems (CMSes) to maintain and update digital content

• Approval workflows needed to approve a purchase order

• Forms to collect data like new hire information

• App building for internal tools and automation

• Code app and no-code apps for rapid development of business apps

"No-code" isn't just about helping non-coders build things. It's also about helping coders build things."
Sahil Lavingia, Founder Gumroad [via mailbrew]

Challenges of Low-Code

The ease that comes with using low-code and no-code capabilities as well as allowing any user to become a citizen developer also brings certain challenges:

These challenges can be avoided by working with a low-code enhanced digital experience platform like Liferay DXP that leverages open-source technologies, integration tools, and robust governance capabilities. This ensures that all application developments undergo a structured approval process to maintain high standards of quality, security, and compliance across the enterprise.

Best Practices for Low-Code and No-Code

To fully leverage the benefits of low-code and no-code development, organizations should follow a set of best practices. Start by:

• Defining clear business requirements to ensure that the apps you build address real business needs.

• Choosing the right platform that aligns with your organization’s goals, considering factors like scalability, integration, and security.

• Factoring in the managing, maintaining, and testing of apps built with low-code and no-code platforms as these tasks can drive up infrastructure and storage expenses.

• Ensuring proper processes for testing and validation are in place as they are essential for data integrity and applications to function as intended.

• Making security a top priority, especially when citizen developers are involved in app development.

• Establishing governance policies to oversee the development process and provide ongoing training and support for all users involved in no-code development.

By following these best practices, organizations can empower citizen developers, maintain high standards for data integrity and security, and drive innovation while keeping costs under control.

Real-World Examples of Low-Code and No-Code

Low-code platforms and no-code platforms are transforming business processes across industries – for example, to manage inventory, to optimize supply chain operations, or track customer engagement and loyalty programs. According to Gartner, the low-code market is predicted to reach $44.5 billion in revenue by 2026, reflecting a strong growth trend.

These real-world examples highlight how low-code and no-code development can give organizations a competitive edge by enabling rapid application development, automating repetitive tasks, and empowering business users to create custom solutions. By adopting a low-code platform or no-code platform, companies can drive innovation, streamline business processes, and respond more effectively to changing market demands.

See If Low-Code/No-Code Is Right for Your Business

Traditional development and engineering teams will still be critical and central to any business, but user-friendly solutions like low-code and no-code, as well as low-code tools, can help reduce the backlog that many of these teams experience.

Businesses should evaluate whether low-code, no-code, and low-code tools can empower their teams to work faster and more efficiently.