Progressive Web Apps (PWA)

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are a new way of creating web applications that combine the best of both worlds: the web and native apps. PWAs use web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but they can also access native features like camera, geolocation, or push notifications. PWAs can be installed on the user’s device without requiring an app store, and they can work offline or on low-quality networks. PWAs are fast, reliable, and engaging, and they can provide a superior user experience and business value.

In this article, we will explore what PWAs are, how they work, and what benefits they offer to users and developers. We will also look at some examples of successful PWAs, and compare them with native apps and traditional web apps. Finally, we will give you some tips and best practices on how to create and optimize your PWAs.

Some examples of successful PWAs are:

• Twitter Lite: A PWA version of the popular social media platform that offers faster loading, lower data consumption, and offline access.

• Pinterest: A PWA version of the visual discovery platform that increased user engagement, ad revenue, and time spent on the site.

• Uber: A PWA version of the ride-hailing app that works on low-end devices and networks, and provides a smooth user interface.

• TikTok: A PWA version of the viral video-sharing app that offers a similar experience to the native app, with features like video playback, camera access, and push notifications.

• Spotify: A PWA version of the music streaming service that allows users to listen to their favorite songs and podcasts online or offline, and create playlists

How PWAs Work

PWAs work by using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and some additional features and components that enable them to provide native-like experiences. These features and components include:

• Service workers: Scripts that run in the background and enable caching, push notifications, and background sync. Service workers allow PWAs to work offline or on low-quality networks, and to update the app without reloading the page.

• Web app manifest: A JSON file that contains metadata about the PWA, such as name, icons, theme color, orientation, and display mode. The web app manifest allows PWAs to be installed on the user’s device and to have a home screen icon.

• App shell: A minimal HTML, CSS, and JavaScript structure that provides the basic user interface of the PWA. The app shell is cached by the service worker and loaded instantly, while the dynamic content is fetched from the network.

• Web APIs: Interfaces that allow PWAs to access native features like camera, geolocation, or payment. Web APIs enable PWAs to provide rich and interactive functionalities to the users.

Elements that make PWAs work

PWA vs Native apps is a common comparison that many developers and app owners face when deciding what kind of app to build. There are pros and cons for each approach, depending on the goals, requirements, and budget of the project. Here are some of the main differences and trade-offs between PWA vs Native apps:

• Development cost and time: PWAs are generally cheaper and faster to develop than native apps because they use web technologies that can run on any platform and device, and they don’t require separate codebases for each operating system. Native apps, on the other hand, require more specialized skills and tools and often need to be built separately for iOS and Android.

• Performance and user experience: Native apps usually offer better performance and user experience than PWAs, because they are optimized for the specific device and operating system, and they can access all the native features and functionalities. PWAs, however, may have some limitations or compatibility issues with certain features or browsers, and they may not work as smoothly or reliably as native apps.

• Distribution and discoverability: PWAs have an advantage over native apps in terms of distribution and discoverability, because they don’t need to be downloaded or installed from an app store, and they can be easily shared and launched from a web link. PWAs can also be indexed by search engines, which can increase their visibility and reach. Native apps, however, require users to go through an app store to find and install them, which can be a barrier for some users.

• Updates and maintenance: PWAs are easier to update and maintain than native apps, because they can be updated automatically without requiring user intervention or approval, and they can be managed from a single codebase. Native apps, however, need to be updated manually by the users through the app store, which can cause delays or inconsistencies in the app versions. Native apps also need to be maintained separately for each platform, which can increase the complexity and cost.

These are some of the main factors to consider when comparing PWA vs Native apps. There is no definitive answer to which one is better, as it depends on the specific needs and preferences of each project.

Creating and optimizing

PWAs are not very different from creating and optimizing any web application, but there are some specific aspects that you should pay attention to. Here are some tips and best practices to help you make your PWA as good as it can be:

• Provide a custom installation: Although users can install your PWA from the browser address bar, you can also provide your installation button in your app user interface, which can be more obvious and inviting. To do this, you need to use the beforeinstallprompt event and show a prompt when the user is eligible to install your PWA.

• Submit to app stores: Many users will look for your app on their device’s app store, which can provide a trustworthy and familiar experience. You can publish your PWA to the Microsoft Store for Windows, the App Store for iOS, or the Play Store for Android, by using tools like PWA Builder.

• Create a great app icon: Your app icon is one of the first things that users will see when they find or launch your app, so make sure it is recognizable, distinctive, and adaptive. Provide multiple image sizes and formats to ensure your app icon looks good on different devices and platforms.

• Use a standalone app window: To make your PWA look and feel like a native app, you should display it in a standalone window with no browser navigation user interface. To do this, you need to set the display member in your web app manifest file to standalone. If your app has multiple pages, make sure users can navigate between them using buttons or links within your app.

• Integrate into the operating system: To make your PWA more engaging and convenient for users, you should integrate it with the operating system features and functionalities. For example, you can use badges, shortcuts, file associations, or share targets to expose common app actions or data to the user.

• Support offline scenarios: One of the key benefits of PWAs is that they can work offline or on low-quality networks, thanks to service workers. Service workers are scripts that run in the background and enable caching, push notifications, and background sync. You should use service workers to cache your app shell and dynamic content and handle network requests gracefully.

• Store data locally: Another benefit of PWAs is that they can store data locally on the device, using web storage APIs like IndexedDB or Cache API. This can improve the performance and reliability of your app, as well as enable offline access to data. You should use web storage APIs to store user preferences, settings, or other data that your app needs.

• Use advanced capabilities: PWAs can also use advanced web APIs to access native features like cameras, geolocation, or payment. Web APIs enable PWAs to provide rich and interactive functionalities to the users, similar to native apps. You should use web APIs to enhance your app features and user experience.

• Make your app look and feel like a real app: PWAs should not only work like native apps but also look like them. You should use responsive design, progressive enhancement, performance optimization, testing tools, and deployment methods to make sure your app adapts to different screen sizes, devices, browsers, and contexts.

• Test on multiple browsers and devices: PWAs are built using web technologies that can run on any platform and device, but they may have some compatibility or functionality issues with certain browsers or devices. You should test your app on multiple browsers and devices to ensure it works as expected and provides a consistent user experience.

• Support deep linking: Deep linking is the ability to link directly to a specific page or content within an app. Deep linking can improve the discoverability and usability of your app, as well as increase user retention and engagement. You should support deep linking in your PWA by using URL parameters or fragments to identify different pages or content in your app.

These are some of the tips and best practices on how to create and optimize PWAs. By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your PWA provides a fast, reliable, and engaging experience for your users.

Conclusion

In this article, we have learned what PWAs are, how they work, and what benefits they offer to users and developers. We have also looked at some examples of successful PWAs and compared them with native apps and traditional web apps. Finally, we have given you some tips and best practices on how to create and optimize your PWAs.

PWAs are a new way of creating web applications that combine the best of both worlds: the web and native apps. PWAs use web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but they can also access native features like camera, geolocation, or push notifications. PWAs can be installed on the user’s device without requiring an app store, and they can work offline or on low-quality networks. PWAs are fast, reliable, and engaging, and they can provide a superior user experience and business value.

If you want to learn more about PWAs or start building your own, here are some resources and links that you may find useful:

• Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) | MDN: A comprehensive guide on PWAs from Mozilla Developer Network, covering concepts, guides, how-tos, and references.

• Get started with Progressive Web Apps | Microsoft Learn A tutorial on how to build a simple PWA using Microsoft Edge tools and technologies.

• What is a PWA? Progressive Web Apps for Beginners | freeCodeCamp: A beginner-friendly introduction to PWAs from freeCodeCamp, explaining what they are, how they work, and why they matter.

• PWA Builder: A tool that helps you generate a PWA from your existing website, and publish it to various app stores.

• PWA getting started demo app repository: The source code of the app that you have built in this tutorial.

We hope you have enjoyed this article and learned something new about PWAs. Thank you for reading!