Progressive Web Apps: Introduction, Difference, Features

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are the newest trend in web-based mobile application development. It’s not a revolutionary new technology, but rather a new word for a collection of technologies aimed at improving the user experience of web-based applications. They are apps that are built on technologies like regular websites but are perceived as full-fledged native apps. There’s a strong chance they’ll eventually supersede native and hybrid apps. In contrast to hybrid apps, they are extremely quick, and unlike native apps, they share a single code base across platforms.

What is a Progressive Web App?
A Progressive Web App is a type of web app that may be used as both a web page and a mobile app. They are very robust and can work on any browser whether iOS or Android.

The general concept of Progressive Web Apps is simple to grasp. They are web apps that look and operate like conventional web pages and are created in web technologies (JavaScript, CSS, HTML). Web applications, for example, are more detectable than native apps; visiting a website is easier and faster than installing an app, and you can easily share web apps by emailing a link. They are linkable and visible in search engine results, but they have identical functionality to native mobile apps: they work offline, provide push notifications, and utilize device hardware in the same way that native apps do.

PWAs aren’t made with just one type of technology. They represent a new approach to web app development that includes certain patterns, APIs, and other features. It’s not always clear whether a web app is a PWA at first sight. When an app fits particular criteria or implements a set of specific features, such as working offline, being installable, being simple to synchronize, and being able to deliver push notifications, it is deemed a PWA. PWAs are developed by meeting the majority of the standards outlined in Google’s checklist, after which they are quick, dependable, and engaging.

Basic difference between Native Apps, Hybrid Apps, and PWA.

Native apps are created with the platform’s programming languages and/or tools (i.e. iOS or Android). They are installed from an app store and run straight on the device (desktop or mobile) without the use of a browser.

Hybrid Apps are so-called because they’re constructed using web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), but they also provide you access to platform features that a browser can’t.

Progressive Web Apps are websites that load instantaneously on any connection, whether you’re online or offline. They’re made to work on any device, but they only provide you access to the platform capabilities that browsers provide.

Features of Progressive Web Apps:

• Fast
  With smooth visuals and no janky scrolling, respond promptly to user inputs. Every online business needs to have a fast website. Users who access websites, especially on their phones, are impatient. If the page takes more than three seconds to load, half of the mobile visits will be abandoned.
• Mobile-first strategy
  PWAs are a direct response to the needs of mobile consumers, allowing organizations to create web solutions that are optimized for mobile-first and foremost.
• Short loading time.
  PWAs render 2-3 times faster as compared to responsive websites, so visitors aren’t irritated by loading bars and can jump right into the action. UX that is similar to that of a native. PWAs have native app capabilities such as push notifications, an icon on the homepage, and offline access.
• All in one
  It is feasible to create a web page and an application at the same time using a PWA, resulting in cost savings and a faster time-to-market. Users, on the other hand, do not need to browse app stores to download the app; they can do it right from their browser.
• SEO-friendliness.
  Many people choose PWAs since they can be optimized according to Google’s requirements and indexed by Googlebot.
• Reliable.
  Even in unreliable network situations, load instantly. Progressive Web Apps’ reliability is predicated on their lack of reliance on an internet connection. A PWA may work offline, offering a consistent experience regardless of connection quality. It allows customers to remain engaged for as long as they desire; they can browse a product catalog or even add goods to a shopping basket without needing to be connected to the internet. Low internet access affects a large number of clients. A PWA enables us to keep browsing without being interrupted. Offline readiness of a PWA also helps with traffic spikes on Black Fridays.
• Engaging
  Feels like a native app on the phone, with a rich user interface. A PWA can access a device’s functionalities, allowing it to improve the customer experience and avoid re-engagement issues. Furthermore, PWAs can be browsed immediately using a browser and are simple to pin to the user’s home screen. Customers’ loyalty is increased when brands send push notifications with exclusive and real-time offers and updates.

Fundamental Characteristics

• It’s discoverable. Search engines can find it easily
• It’s Secure, so any third parties attempting to gain access to sensitive data are prevented from connecting to the user, the app, and your server.
• It’s meant to work on any device with a screen and a browser, including phones, tablets, computers, TVs, and even refrigerators.
• It’s installable, so it’ll show up on your device’s home screen or app launcher.
• It’s re-engageable, which means it can send notifications whenever fresh content is available.
• It’s linkable, so you may provide a URL to share it.
• It’s been progressively upgraded, which means it’s still usable on a basic level in earlier browsers but completely functioning in newer ones.
• It operates offline or with a bad network connection because it is network-independent.

Offering these capabilities and utilizing all of the benefits that web applications provide can result in a compelling, highly versatile offering for your users and clients.

Companies using it

• Twitter
  Twitter Lite (mobile.twitter.com) was created as a Progressive Web App, which has improved the site’s overall user experience when accessed from a mobile device. In April 2017, it became the default mobile web experience for all users worldwide. Twitter created Twitter Lite in order to provide a more robust experience, with clear goals of rapid loading, user engagement, and reduced data usage.
• Housing
  Housing.com is a real estate search service based in India that allows clients to search for housing based on location, amount of rooms, and other criteria. It is one of India’s most popular online real estate marketplaces. The Housing engineering group set out in 2016 to create the site’s mobile web as a Progressive Web App, and the results were well worth the effort.
• Uber
  Uber realized that in order to reach new clients in different regions of the world, they needed a fast-loading website even on 2G. A PWA was the answer to this problem. Uber’s mobile web application, which can be found at m.uber.com, also uses PWA. This provides an app-like experience for users using low-end devices, including those that the native application may not support. The program is also extremely small—the main ride request app is only 50kB in size, allowing it to load swiftly even on 2G networks.

Is it for your business?
Is it necessary for every firm to develop a Progressive Web App? Certainly not. Consider your business needs and, more significantly, the needs of your end-users, just like you would with any other business choice. Do they make use of mobile apps? Do they have reliable Internet access? What is their method of accessing your website and from whence do they get it? Will a PWA help them in their careers or daily lives? Will PWAs be beneficial to users or provide a solution? Although it is simple to create PWAs, this does not automatically imply that you should. Consider not having a PWA if your users won’t benefit from it or if constructing one isn’t cost-effective.

Conclusion
Progressive Web Apps, pioneered by Google, joyfully embraced by Microsoft, and reluctantly adopted by Apple, are rapidly getting popular among the world’s leading online technology companies. Companies like Pinterest, Aliexpress, Trivago, OLX, and Forbes, which have already put PWA technology to the test to increase user engagement, have proven that it is the ideal solution to the mobile world’s difficulties. PWAs, in my opinion, are really valuable and can enable people who access the internet via mobile devices to have a better experience.

Startxlabs, one of India’s top digital transformation service providers. Launched in 2014, Startxlabs aims in innovating a digital future by developing technology for the web and mobile platforms. From our beginning as a technology development company, we’ve tried to stay true to our core beliefs and to deliver exceptional services to our clients. Whether it’s people we work for or people who work for us, we value honesty, passion, and the desire to explore. We have expertise in website development, android app development, iOS app development, Flutter, React Native app development, UI/UX design, and marketing strategy. With the engagement of our highly technical team, we have delivered over 110+ projects providing a positive impact on the users.