The technology used to create and distribute applications on mobile devices is known as mobile application development. This typically involves programming languages such as Java or Kotlin for Android and Swift or Objective-C for iOS. Development frameworks, like React Native or Flutter, allow for cross-platform development, enabling a single codebase to produce applications for multiple operating systems. Mobile app distribution is primarily done through app stores such as the Apple App Store and Google Play Store, ensuring wider reach and accessibility for users.