What is Progressive Web App (PWA)?

Progressive Web App (PWA) is all about delivering a native app-like experience to the user by utilizing modern web techniques.

Progressive Web App (PWA) is a relatively new technology that combines the functionality of an app within the benefits of a webpage.

Progressive Web App (PWA) is more discoverable than native apps and more user-friendly than the mobile web.

Progressive Web App (PWA) puts the end-user first with few requirements in terms of speed, performance, and usability from a secure origin (HTTPS) for a safe experience.

Progressive Web App (PWA) delivers an unparalleled rich mobile user experience on any web browser with similar native functions such as an iOS and Android app.

In 2015, the term Progressive Web App was introduced by Frances Berriman and Google Chrome engineer Alex Russell. Progressive Web Apps are revolutionizing the mobile experience for users as well as various industries.

Progressive Web App is the perfect low-cost mobile solution that allows the business to be viewed on both desktop and mobile devices that is a good solution to replace or support existing websites.

Few Progressive Web App benefits are considerable:

# Users can easily find and add websites or apps to their mobile and desktop home screen.

# Performance is improved in PWA because files can be cached on-demand or in advance.

# Technology can be applied to existing websites and apps.

# PWA can be updated like normal web apps without App Store complexities.

# PWA can be hundreds of times smaller and efficient than native mobile apps.

The application built on a progressive web app is a mix of both mobile applications and traditional webpages. PWAs have highly secured, responsive and scalable.

According to Google, the progressive web app definition is:

# Reliable – PWA loads instantly even if the network conditions are not good.

# Engaging – PWA is engaging and the users get an immersive experience and stay connected with the app.

# Fast – PWA is highly interactive and provides fast user experience with smooth scrolling, and animations, etc.   

How Progressive Web App (PWA) Works –

Progressive Web App takes advantage of new features supported by modern browsers including web app manifest and service workers.

The rich experience of PWAs is powered by three strong pillars as:

# App Shell – An app shell is the framework of the User Interface (UI) that loads on the user screen and it provides interactions and navigations similar to the native app.

Progressive web app (PWA) uses an app shell which is the minimal HTML, CSS, and JavaScript that required to power the User Interface (UI).

The first time you load the app, the app shell is cached on your desktop or mobile phone. Subsequently, this App Shell is loaded very quickly from the local device cache and reduces the volume of data that needs to be freshly downloaded.

An app shell is designed to use minimum data and caches. The app shell is not a mandatory requirement for building a PWA but its addition assures vital performance and speed.

# Service Worker – The App Shell caching work is done by a service worker. It’s a script that keeps running in the background which serves as a gateway to features.

Service workers are JS files that can control a website by modifying navigation and resource requests. These service workers decide what is cached and when. Service workers also enable features like push notifications.

Service worker gives the app the ability to intercept network requests, managing multiple caches, and reducing data traffic.

# Web App Manifest – The manifest is a JavaScript file that controls how your website (PWA) appears to the users and directs what functionality can be launched and how.

A web app manifest gives information like the icon, name, author, and description of an app in the JSON text file.

It shows the developers how a Progressive Web App (PWA) appears in areas in the device where the user expects to see at the home screen.

Google Chrome on Android allows PWAs to display a banner to the user asking if they would like to add the app to their home screen.

Advantages of a Progressive Web App (PWA) –

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are web apps that give the same look and feel of a native mobile app, but with a lite version. Progressive Web App (PWA) is supported by Google Chrome, Opera, Safari, and Samsung browser, etc.

You can use PWAs by simply click on the option ‘add to your homepage’ from the browser menu and it’ll be added on your mobile or desktop screen.

Progressive Web App offers a few advantages over traditional web apps:

# Responsive – Progressive web app is highly responsive. PWA works on any web browser and functions similarly to an app.

PWA adjusts their look and feels according to the device they run on. Progressive web apps are compatible with all kinds of browsers. It’s possible for every user to derive the best out of PWAs irrespective of the choice of browser.

It’s faster, and smarter with a perfect way to upgrade or support the current website. Developers don’t have to adapt PWAs for Android and iOS separately and these are extremely cost-effective.

# No Installation – The high friction action of asking a user to install a mobile app and the inconvenience of going to an app store, finding the right app and installing it a boring task.

It’s much simpler to get started with a PWA that takes less than a second to install and it takes up less than a megabyte of space.

You can launch directly from the web and visitors are prompted to save the app on their home screen without the need to install.

Once you enter a website that can be used as a progressive web app (PWA) and then you’ll be asked to pin the PWA to mobile or desktop screen. It’ll not only save the app but will also allow you to start using it whenever you want.

# Offline Support – App working offline might be surprising, but PWA is all about access to content offline. Service workers are a core of progressive web app that works in the background when the website is not accessed.

The progressive web app uses cache memory that enables us to stay connected via the offline mode. Service workers use cache and gather API to quickly load PWA.

Using service workers new content is cached and local changes are synchronized to a local server.

It’s responsible for caching, content updates, push notifications and makes PWA work offline. PWA is independent of Internet connectivity and allows to either work offline or on slow speed networks.

PWAs are the lite version of the native app and they don’t need a high-speed Internet connection to load. Independence from connectivity helps businesses reach a wider audience.

Progressive Web App (PWA) allows the users to collect and record data in remotely and offline conditions and it also synchronizes with existing systems when coming back into connectivity.

# Low Data Usage – The data is an expensive commodity. Progressive web app only uses a fraction of data usage compared to native apps.

A native app that consumes 10mb of data, for instance, can be cut to just 500kb with a PWA. It’s a massive decrease when your monthly data limit isn’t huge or where buying data is expensive.

PWA doesn’t require any significant storage on the device. PWA free up space for the user and contributes to better performance on their smartphones.

The term ‘App Shell’ is a minimal HTML, CSS, and JSS needed to render the UI of the website and contains only UI elements without any dynamic data.

App shell stored in the cache on the first load and subsequently, the user opens the app when UI will load immediately.

# Push Notifications – Web or push notifications are small clickable popups that appear on your web or mobile browser when you’re online.

The push notifications are an important part of the native app and PWAs wear this as a shining badge of honor. You can send out push notifications which are 10x more effective than email.

PWA is more functional and engaging than a website. The progressive web app also supports push notification API which means they support browser push notifications. Notifications are sent by browsers instead of your web.

PWAs have look and feel of native apps with personalized push notifications and they engaged more people. Users can add PWAs to the home screen icon and access anytime with just a click.

# SEO Friendly – Progressive Web App (PWA) can utilize your website domain name and it’s easy to find on the Internet with an option to support existing websites.

PWAs can also boost the accessibility and searchability of your app. Progressive web app loads fast and takes less than 2 seconds to load.

PWAs have a marked impact on search engine rankings as faster loading websites receive a ranking boost. It indexes quickly and it provides a great user experience which all adds to the success of SEO strategy.

PWAs have URLs and can be crawled and indexed by the search engine. The users can find PWA pages directly in SERPs.

The websites and apps faster loading keep search engines and users happy. You can also implement PWAs into an existing online marketing plan.

# Security – Google encourages websites having HTTPS instead of HTTP. Cyber threats are always on the top of the list for web and app developers.

The progressive web app comes with the HTTPS protocol that means PWA is safe and secures your content from misuse or tempering.  

As more websites are programmed in HTTPS, it’ll help in easier launching a PWA in a secure environment. PWA is safer and more secure than traditional web browsers or native apps. PWAs can be launched with a URL.

# Better Engagement – PWAs technology provides big user engagement because they ask for permission to update regularly with useful notifications.

Whenever you switch to a progressive web app, you would be prompted to allow the users to send notifications. You may have come across websites showing a dialog box with Allow and Deny button and by clicking it, you’ll get the updates.

The same thing was introduced by Google Chrome app that reads ‘Add to Home Screen’ and you can add the website to the homepage.

The link-adding feature will allow the app to be cached and you’ll be given app access directly from the home screen. You’d be notified about the important information, even when you aren’t using the page.

Progressive Web App vs Native App –

Progressive web app (PWA) will function as both a webpage and an app. It includes push notifications and can be installed on the home screen.

PWA brings native app features of the web app to all platforms and devices using web standards running in a secure context.

The native app needs to commission an iOS version and Android version as well as a professionally designed website.

PWAs are not as slow as mobile websites but a hybrid of native apps and mobile websites. The progressive web app provides the benefit of an all in one solution.

There are some reasons that make progressive web app (PWA) better than native apps:

# Cost Effective – Building a mobile app is not always a cost-effective thing you can do to increase customer experience.

It takes a lot of time and a lot of money to build a mobile app and it has to be popular with a presence on all the platforms that brings up the cost.

Progressive web app (PWA) is one app for across all platforms, but a native app is for iOS, Android, and other play stores individually.

PWAs can save a lot of time and effort in development and deployment. It’s a budget-friendly and can be done in a very short time.

The progressive web app is progressive and it’ll work on all platforms without the need for further customizations.

# Market Research – Progressive web app can take the user across to varied devices and platforms at a very less app development cost and effort. PWA takes brand visibility to the next level.

# Fewer Clicks – The user abandonment rate keeps increasing with an increase in clicks during complete an action.

PWA needs no installation as compared to native apps and the abandonment rate is slow. The users can do a lot more with much fewer clicks by clicking an action in the progressive web app.

# Seamless Experience – Progressive web app is a blend of native apps and web apps and it doesn’t ask to install an app.

It gives you a seamless experience between webpages. If native apps are known for their capability and then PWAs are known for reachability.

PWAs can offer HTML5 features such as camera access, geolocation, 3D visualization, audio, and video playback, etc. as well as mobile gestures. It gives users a chance to reach beyond the limitations created by a single app.

PWAs are based on service workers. The service workers are the latest technology in the form of scripts that is event-driven and the domain events are accessible to service workers.

Flipkart Lite is a big example of a PWA that provides faster navigation, less data usage and contains various attributes that actively re-engage the users.

Progressive Web App (PWA) is the Future of Mobile App –

The progressive web app is the future of the world. PWAs merge the web world and the native app world. The future of PWA is bright.

Web browsers like Google Chrome and Firefox are generally the best mobile browsers to experience the full potential of PWAs.

PWA continues to make a strong base in the market. The big companies like Amazon, Twitter, Flipkart, Pinterest, OLX, and Forbes have already launched PWA versions of their native apps.

# Extension to Responsive Web App (RWA) – RWAs focus on user engagement and experience. PWAs have enhanced these features as progressive in nature.

PWAs are the advanced level of mobile app genres like Responsive Web Apps (RWA) and Android Instant Apps (AIA).

PWA follows the former approach and adds on its own features to continue the legacy. PWA is convenient for the users because they enjoy the native apps features on any device.

# Android Instant App (AIA) – Android Instant App is a technology used for mobile development. It provides users attractive apps that contain the material design and the users don’t need to install them on any device.

Progressive Web App is another effort by Google that provides the app-like experience to the users by deploying the advanced web techniques and capabilities.

Conclusion – The Progressive Web App technology is still in its infancy and it’s improving with new features and functions in the making. With the help of PWA, the keywords get the increased conversion, interaction rate and customer engagement along with decreased loading times and data usage. There are many advantages to PWA and the supported technologies can help your brand make the shift to it. Progressive Web App is undoubtedly the next chapter in web development and the possibilities for businesses are extensive.