What is a Progressive Web Application
PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) are the most powerful
trend in mobile web development today. PWA technology was developed by Google
only a few years ago, but it quickly gained traction and is now seen as a new
approach for mobile apps.
Learn about PWA, its primary features, and why native development should
be preferred over PWA in this post.
What is a Progressive Web Application (PWA)?
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are web applications that use web-based
applications that we're all familiar with, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
They do, however, have the look and feel of a native application. Hold on a
second! What do we mean when we say "native apps"?
A native app is a software application developed in a particular
programming language for a particular device environment, such as iOS or
Android.
PWAs provide features such as push notifications and the ability to
function offline. They're also built on top of current APIs, making it simple
to provide increased features, as well as dependability and the flexibility to
install them on any device.
PWAs make use of the wide range of online ecosystems, which includes
modules and communities, as well as the relative simplicity of deploying and
maintaining a website, as opposed to a native application, which is more
complicated to construct. As a result, you can create a PWA quickly and easily.
Many firms have migrated into the product as a result of its success; we
believe this is due to its ability to function on both Android and iOS without
much change. Twitter, Pinterest, Uber, Tiktok, Spotify, Jumia (Africa's biggest
e-commerce site), and others are just a few instances of notable firms that
have PWAs for their goods.
The fact that such items can all be installed on your home screen, that
they can continue to function offline from where you last left them, and that
they provide a basis for comparison and features to their native applications
are all common characteristics.
PWAs are similar to native mobile apps in that they have certain expectations that must be satisfied in order to provide a successful product for user use. Let's take a look at what makes an excellent PWA.
The following are some of the most important advantages of PWA apps:
1. Offline availability
If your internet connection is slow or non-existent, your website will not show the material properly. Mobile applications, on the other hand, frequently identify and allow users to utilize them even when they are not connected to the internet. As a result, they are more accessible and encourage participation. PWA also provides this service.
2. Behavior that is similar to that of a mobile
Progressive Web Applications are similar to mobile apps, but they include website features such as dynamic data and database access. Most PWAs take advantage of existing technologies and UX/UI that enable them to provide better user experiences than traditional websites. PWAs, on the other hand, function similarly to websites and are search engine indexable, which helps to increase their visibility.
3. A hassle-free installation
Users may download a PWA from a website and install it immediately on their device. A PWA, like a mobile app, has its own icon on phones and tablets. Additionally, you may submit your software to the Google Play Store for more interaction (the Apple App Store currently does not allow this).
4. No submission to the app store.
You don't have to put your PWA in the app store. As a natural result, companies are given the time and effort to submit their apps to app stores. Also, teams may send new updates to users without having to wait for approval; the changes are downloaded and updated instantly when users reopen the app.
5. Take advantage of hardware characteristics.
Different mobile functionalities, such as push notifications, can be included. The best part is that developers have complete control over their development, which might open up new marketing and sales channels for firms. Additionally, PWAs may take advantage of mobile device hardware capabilities like geolocation and cameras.
What are the advantages of PWA apps for desktop users?
Progressive Web Programs (PWPs), like native apps, may be installed on
desktop devices. PWAs have the capability to provide lots of new advantages to
desktop users. They're lighter than native desktop apps, for example. They update
automatically in the background, so there's no need to push consumers to update
their applications manually. PWAs are simple to set up and are dependable.
PWAs are being adopted by a growing number of businesses and
governmental organizations, not only because they are affordable to construct
but also because they provide increased interaction.
Let's have a look at a brief rundown of the advantages of a PWA:
- The updates are self-contained; you do not need to go to the Play Store to get them.
- They're made using standard web tools.
- They're both quick and light.
- Unlike other websites, they function offline.
- They may be found via a search engine.
- They are simple to set up.
- Low-cost maintenance.
The Future of Progressive Web Apps
According to Gartner, PWAs are expected to replace 50% of mobile
applications by 2020. PWA is a rapidly growing technology that many analysts
feel will be the future of mobile development.
Many data-driven enterprise apps that don't require native development and deployment will very certainly be produced as PWAs. Business-to-employee applications are an example of this. If native applications are great PWA prospects, there's no reason to spend a lot of effort and money developing them.
Users, on the other hand, don't download and maintain as many apps on their smartphones as they formerly did. That's why companies will explore methods to reduce the barrier to entry and the expense of mobile development – and that's when they'll turn to the PWA.
When should you use native applications instead of PWA apps?
Even though PWAs have a lot of advantages, native applications are frequently a superior option. If you want to use a native app, you should:
- You need to provide your users with the best experience possible (faster and smoother animations),
- Your app must be able to communicate with other native apps.
- Your app should have more functionality than a PWA (for example, geofencing),
- You wish to alter and improve the user interface.
- Advanced features are required for your app (for example, social networking).
- They work in the same way as traditional native apps do.
- They are responsive and adapt to a variety of screen sizes.
What Are the Differences Between Native and PWA Apps?
The Cost of Development
PWAs are less expensive to create than native apps.
When creating a native app, you'll need to learn a programming language
and then create separate versions of the app for Android and iOS devices. On
the other hand, you may hire an experienced expert to complete the task for
you, which will be more expensive.
You'll need resources in the future to maintain and update the software,
which will cost a lot of money and effort.
In the case of a PWA, you can have a single codebase for all platforms.
It also saves time since you won't have to build it from scratch; instead, you
may adapt your present website to meet the requirements.
And, unlike native, where you may employ up to two developers depending on where you require your app, if you hire a developer, you will only be able to hire one.
Discoverability
Native applications aren't indexed by search engines, so you'll have to
go to the App/Play store's website to find them. Software Store Optimization
(ASO) can help you make your app more searchable in the App or Play store, but
that's a different subject.
PWAs, unlike native applications, function similarly to webpages, allowing them to be indexed by search engines. This improves their search engine rankings.
Safety
In today's world, a website must be encrypted with an SSL certificate in
order to function, which provides an extra degree of protection. PWAs, as we
all know, are websites that have been transformed into apps, making them more
secure since they operate over HTTPS. These really are safety protocols that
enable the secure flow of data between the client and the server, preventing
tampering.
You must use various security techniques, like multi-factor authentication, to safeguard your native apps.
Do you need PWA developers for your next project? Get in touch with us; we know how to create apps that leverage this technology to
propel your company forward.