An Extensive Guide to Progressive Web Apps

The mobile app industry recently witnessed an array of exciting trends. Various experts engaged in debates, sharing diverse viewpoints to enhance user experiences. Now, let's dive into the hot trend of the past few years: Progressive Web Apps.

There's an ongoing debate about whether PWAs (progressive web apps) surpass mobile applications, as a lot of them both support mobile apps and draw inspiration from the mobile web experience.

Today, with 6.5 billion smartphone users worldwide, mobile devices have become indispensable in our daily lives, influencing everything from grocery shopping to scheduling, even booking flight and movie tickets. Understanding every facet of these apps is crucial, especially when seeking reliable mobile app development services.

PWAs bring you the key to a seamless user experience. Since this technology is relatively new in the mobile industry, users need to explore the fundamentals of PWAs and develop a thorough understanding of this concept. So, let's get started:

What are Progressive Web Apps?

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) use familiar web technologies we all know and love, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. However, they provide the same look and functionality as native apps. But hold on a second! When we talk about "native apps," what exactly are we referring to?

A Native App is a software application created for a particular device platform, such as iOS or Android, using a specific programming language.

PWAs have features like push notifications and the capacity to function without an internet connection. They also leverage modern APIs to effortlessly provide enhanced capabilities, ensuring reliability and enabling installation on any device.

PWAs make the most of the extensive web ecosystem, which includes plugins, a supportive community, and the relative simplicity of creating and maintaining a website, in contrast to the challenges of developing a native application. This means you can create a PWA rapidly and with ease.

As it gained popularity, numerous companies have embraced this technology. This is primarily due to its versatility in running smoothly on Android and iOS platforms, offering a consistent user experience. Some noteworthy examples of top companies with PWAs as their products include Twitter, Pinterest, Uber, TikTok, Spotify, and Jumia (a prominent e-commerce platform in Africa), among others.

A shared characteristic among these products is that you can easily install them on your home screen. They also can function offline, picking up from where you left off, and provide a user experience and features similar to their native app counterparts.

Characteristics of PWAs

Here's what you should keep in mind when you're developing a PWA:

1. Responsiveness

Various companies manufacture devices with a range of screen sizes. As a developer, your role is to ensure every user can have a satisfying experience, regardless of their chosen system. Therefore, it's an intelligent approach to ensure your app functions seamlessly on all screen sizes and its content remains accessible at any viewport size.

2. Installable

Studies indicate that users are more likely to interact with installed apps than visiting official websites. Opting for a PWA as your product provides users with the familiar look, feel, and engagement of a typical app.

3. Independent Connectivity

Ensuring that users remain engaged with your app even offline offers a more consistent experience than redirecting them to a standard offline page.

Let's look at an example to know this better. Take a music app, for instance; your users should be able to enjoy offline playback and listen to their saved music even when there's no internet connection. Another great example is the Twitter app, where users can easily catch up and read through tweets they might have missed.

4. Discoverability

Since many PWAs start as converted websites, it makes sense to ensure they appear in search engine results. Taking this action not only boosts your app's traffic but also gives PWAs an advantage over native apps, which search engine queries can't uncover.

5. Appearance

Your app's appearance should closely resemble that of a typical app. Ensure you include elements like an app icon, which enhances recognition and features like a splash screen, adding to the overall app-like experience.

6. Cross Platform

PWAs are initially built as web apps, which means they must function on all browsers and systems, not just a few select ones. Users should have the flexibility to use them on any browser before they opt for installation.

So, there you go, folks! That's the basic information about PWAs. As we've gone along, you might have noticed a few comparisons between PWAs and Native Apps, which could be confusing. Let's clarify things by examining the differences between the two for a clearer understanding.

Differences Between PWAs and Native Apps1. Development Cost

PWAs are more cost-effective to create than Native Apps. When building a native app, you have to master a specific programming language and develop separate versions for different devices like Android and iOS. In contrast, you can hire an experienced professional to handle the work, which can be even more expensive.

In the future, you'll also need both money and time to keep the app maintained and up-to-date.

With a PWA, you can use a single codebase for various platforms, saving time and effort. You won't need to start from scratch; you can adapt your existing website to fit the purpose.

2. Discoverability

Search engines cannot index Native apps; you can only find them through the App Store or Play Store websites. If you want to enhance your app's discoverability on these platforms, you can delve into the world of App Store Optimization (ASO), but that's a different tale altogether.

In contrast to native apps, PWAs operate more like websites, making them accessible to search engine indexing. This feature contributes to their improved ranking in search results.

3. Safety

In today's digital landscape, website running requires SSL encryption for added security. As we've established, PWAs are essentially websites transformed into apps, making them inherently more secure since they operate on HTTPS. HTTPS is a security protocol that ensures a secure data exchange between the client and the server, preventing unauthorised tampering with the information.

Securing your native apps involves implementing several security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and similar strategies.

4. Installation and Download

Native apps must be downloaded and installed from an app store, which demands a certain level of commitment from users to complete the process. Users must navigate through multiple permissions and checks before they can install an app.

On the other hand, PWAs eliminate the need for those steps. Using your browser, you can bookmark it and add the app to your home screen with just a few taps.

Benefits of PWAs

Many private and public organisations are making the transition to PWAs, and this move isn't just because they're cost-effective to develop; it's also because they provide higher user engagement.

Now, let's quickly review the advantages of a PWA:

• They adapt to various screen sizes and are compatible with different devices.

• They can operate on various platforms and any device equipped with a contemporary web browser.

• The updates happen automatically, and you don't have to go to the app store for an update.

• Developers build them using familiar web technologies.

• They're quick and lightweight.

• They function offline, unlike most other websites.

• They are searchable via the search engine.

• You can easily install them.

• It costs little to maintain.

Wrapping Words

This comprehensive guide to Progressive Web Apps showcases the transformative potential of this technology in modern web development. PWAs are the key to delivering exceptional user experiences on diverse devices. As businesses worldwide seek to embrace this innovative approach, a trustworthy partner is essential. If you're looking for a leading software development company in India to help you unlock the full potential of PWAs, you're on the right path. By harnessing the power of PWAs with a skilled partner, you can elevate your online presence and ensure seamless, engaging interactions for your users.

SEO Executive at Infotop Solutions