In the fast-paced world of web development, new technologies are continually being developed and none of the less is Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). It’s becoming evident that entrepreneurs and developers alike are turning to this ingenious creation by the masses, with a growing number of organizations opting for the development of Progressive web apps for their respective businesses.
What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
Although the term “Progressive Web App” was coined in 2015-a long time ago for web development-there remain some confusions over what exactly constitutes them. Simply defined, PWAs are app-like websites that use web technologies to try to merge the best of both web and native environments; they encompass three significantly important components.
Website: Essentially, every PWA is simply more or less a regular website written using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. PWAs interact using JavaScript only, thus there is no need to have a development setup to create them; since all modern web browsers already support them.
Web manifest: PWAs come with a JSON file that tells the web browser and device it is working on that this is a PWA and not a browser site. The manifest holds the name of the PWA, its icon, description, what permissions it needs, and all other information that may be needed to help it function properly on the device.
Service worker: To give technical grounding for functionality traditionally associated with native mobile apps-like push notifications, rich offline experiences, and periodic background syncs-PWAs utilize a JavaScript script that runs in the background, independently from the actual web page.
Benefits of Progressive Web Apps
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) incorporate the best website and mobile app characteristics to produce many benefits such that the user experience is seamless across various devices. Their applications load faster, have offline modes and are also cost-effective to develop. Here are the attributes of importance in PWAs and how they can individually contribute to improving your website strategy.
- Fast and Furious: PWAs are quick and smooth. There is no time to waste in waiting. They speed things up with certain techniques, including caching and background data updates, allowing the vital components of the application to always be available when required by the users.
- Offline: Just think about that: PWAs can work offline. For users, that’s a tremendous help. Especially for travels in areas that are not Wi-Fi equipped or when they have limited access while on the go. For instance, you can browse the catalogue or read an article even when the Wi-Fi is down on a plane.
- Cost friendly: With the development of a PWA costing lesser than multiple applications for different platforms such as iOS and Android, this one-time version reaches the maximum number of users across several devices, which saves money, time, and cost of updates.
- User-friendly: PWAs are all about making things easier and more enjoyable for users in the end. They get to load fast, feel amazing and are easy to navigate through. This gets more satisfied users who want to stick back and use that app regularly.
Why PWAs Are the Future That’s Already Here
As technology progresses, so does the way we interact with digital experiences. Progressive Web Apps are often termed as the “future of the web,” but in all honesty, the future is already here. The rapid acceptance of PWAs is the result of their unchallenged flexibility, speed, and low cost of investment. Here’s why they are shaping how we’ll use the Internet in the future:
PWAs are highly available. PWAs don’t require users to download or install anything. With this kind of accessibility, businesses can reach a far wider audience without difficulties like downloading from app stores or device compatibility. That is, PWAs are already blurring the lines between web and mobile, making digital experiences even more accessible. Tech giants like Google and Microsoft are supporting PWAs in their entirety, understanding that they can redefine the app ecosystem. Google has been lifting its standards for the broader uptake of PWAs by initiatives like Lighthouse tool designed specifically for developers who would like to build high-performing PWAs. With the kind of backing, it’s pretty clear that PWAs are here to stay and not just a passing phase but a kind of bedrock in future world web design.
Let us take a look at a few illustrious companies that have efficiently employed Progressive Web Apps, in order to grasp the possibilities of the technology:
- Twitter: Twitter’s PWA (Twitter Lite) diminished data usage by 70% and increased pages per session by 65% in comparison to their mobile website.
- Starbucks: Starbucks saw a 2x increase in daily active users after launching their PWA, with users interacting with the app both online and offline.
- Pinterest: After launching its PWA, Pinterest saw a 60% increase in user engagement and a 40% increase in ad revenue.
If you want your web presence to offer performance and accessibility, it might be the perfect time to consider building a Progressive Web App for your business. And if you feel like you still need some help? Just reach out to 77 Million.
