The web is an incredible platform having ubiquity across devices and operating systems. Developers find it an excellent platform to present their software as web applications. But due to the extensive usage of different devices, developing applications for PCs and smartphones separately might seem tedious. So, to give the feel of a native app, web developers are now shifting to progressive web applications. This tutorial will guide you through the various concepts and tools of Progressive web applications and how they are beneficial to software development firms.
What Are Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)?
Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) is an approach to developing web applications that give traditional web apps the look and feel of native apps. With a progressive web app, developers can improve the legacy web application with all the ingredients and features of the mobile app. It increases usability and extends a great user experience (UX). Developing applications in a progressive manner deliver an app-like experience with modern web capabilities. It allows developers to provide features like:
- It allows adding an application icon to the mobile home screen as a shortcut.
- It allows access to application data even when you are offline.
- It allows background synchronization.
- It allows access to the camera.
- It allows receiving push notifications for the app.
PWA enables web apps to be stored on your device. It produces an icon in the form of a website app. Opening that icon will show the look and feel of the mobile application. With PWA, all previously opened posts are stored on the device. Users do not need to access the Internet to reread them. PWA app development uses a methodology combining the native app experience and rendering web browser features.
The Primary Advantage of PWA Apps
If a company makes an application, they need to develop it for different platforms like Android, iOS, and Windows. But this is not the case in PWA. Developers do not need to create separate apps for each platform. A single application will serve all devices and platforms. The only requirement is that the browser running PWA apps must support HTML5-based web pages and run on any mobile browser.
Characteristics of Progressive Web Applications (PWAs)
Progressive web apps are web applications that are designed to be capable, reliable, and installable across a variety of devices and platforms. This new form of application development complements the improved user experience and look that makes the app feel similar to a platform-specific app.
Here are the five characteristics every progressive web application delivers.
- Progressive: The word progressive has a specific meaning in PWA applications. It means the application should work on any device or platform, providing superior appearance and performance on both users' mobile browsers and PCs.
- Discoverable: Progressive web apps are websites or applications with additional features and functionalities. Users can search these apps through search engine applications. Companies are not required to upload these to the App Store or Play Store.
- Responsive: The term responsive in web apps means that the app can fit any device or screen size. Progressive web apps are responsive, which means they can fit into any form, factor, and screen size within a device.
- App-like: Progressive web apps render the look and feel of native applications. Even though the approaches used to create, share, launch, and update PWAs fundamentally differ from native applications, they provide similar features that native web apps offer.
- Connectivity and Independence: PWA works seamlessly even when connected to low internet speed.
Advantages of PWA
- PWA-based web apps look very impressive on smartphones and other portable devices.
- Users can easily save a portion of these apps on their devices.
- Progressive web apps do not require any updates.
- It becomes easy to load PWA apps on the smartphone.
- Such applications save money and time as developers do not need to create separate apps for Android, iOS, and other platforms.
- With PWA, all previously opened posts are stored on the device. Users do not need to access the Internet to reread them.
- It requires lesser internet data to load its components.
- Developing PWA apps are cheaper than the other native applications.