What if your app could work faster, be always available to users, and load no matter their internet connection? It’s a crazy idea, but it’s not as impossible as you might think. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are a new type of website that combines the best of websites with the best of apps. They combine the speed and performance of a website with the installation process of an app. Given that these properties are usually mutually exclusive in most applications, this will come as great news for developers and users alike. In this blog post, we’ll explore what makes PWA different from your regular static or dynamic website and explain why they matter.
What is a Progressive Web App?
A Progressive Web App is a new type of website that combines the best of websites with the best of apps. It’s a website built using modern web standards, that’s accessible from the home screen of a device, routing all displays through the browser, and providing an app-like experience. PWAs were created to bring some of the best features of native mobile applications to web apps. The best part is that the development costs are way lower than if they were building native apps. It’s estimated that the cost of building a PWA is 40% cheaper than building a mobile app. And, if you’re building a progressive web app, you can reach 90% of the users on the web. The ones who are using it on their desktop devices, tablets, and even on their TVs.
Why do PWAs Matter?
To understand what makes PWAs special, we need to understand what makes native apps special. Native apps are built from the ground up for a specific platform. Users download the app from an app store, and the app is installed on the device. Then, users need to launch the app again to use the app. Apps are installed on the device, and they’re able to use the device’s resources. Like the camera, GPS, and other sensors. Apps also have a direct connection to the internet. This means they don’t have to go through a server to get content or interact with users.
Key Aspects of PWAs
There are a few key aspects to a Progressive Web App, but the most important one is that the web app is accessible from the home screen of a device. This is done by adding a custom icon to the URL of the website. If a user taps on the icon, they’ll be brought to the app. Users can add an icon to the home screen just like they would with an app. The other key aspect of a PWA is that it loads instantly and provides push notifications. PWAs load instantly thanks to the fact that they are stored on the browser. This means that even when a user is offline, they can still access the website and push notifications can send messages even when the user isn’t using the website. However, PWAs are not just static websites.
What’s Next for PWAs
While PWAs are still relatively new, they’re starting to pick up speed and many big name websites have started building them. For example, Airbnb, The Guardian, and even Tinder have started implementing them. However, there are still some limitations with PWAs. The biggest one is that they aren’t available on mobile devices that don’t use browsers. This means that they don’t work on iOS devices. There are ways to get around this, like using Appcelerator or React Native which let you create a native app and a PWA at the same time. However, we don’t know what the future of PWAs holds. It could be that they become the standard for websites. Or it could be that they remain a relative niche way to build apps. Only time will tell.
Wrapping up
At the end of the day, most of the hype around Progressive Web Apps is based on the promise that they will become the future. However, even though the future is unknown, there are also tons of benefits for people looking to create an app now. PWAs are accessible to more users and provide the same experience as an app but at a fraction of the cost. Additionally, they offer built-in push notifications that can be added to users’ home screens. If you’re looking to create an app, it’s worth exploring Progressive Web Apps. They provide the same experience as a native app, but they’re cheaper, accessible to more users, and can be added to users’ home screens.
Book a consult with us Amoeba TSC and let’s get cracking…