Before stepping into the subject, let’s discuss web applications and native applications. it was in 2014 when web applications became popular, because of HTML. Web Application is similar to a website, the only main difference between the two is that a web application focuses on user interaction.
Progressive Web APPS aka PWA are native plus web apps that offer better performance and lead to better user engagement.
It is a proven fact that the mobile industry is on an all-time boom, which has led to quick access to smartphones for everybody. Adding to the present is that the easy and cheap access to fast internet connections. Today, everyone owns a smartphone and has access to high-speed internet. This has led to a paradigm shift from desktops to smartphones for using the internet.
Therefore, for being efficient in such an environment, within the year 2015, Google introduced PWA which allows the users to access fast-loading websites on their smartphones. PWA uses service workers who basically store the server of the PWA within the browser to the user and the system adds new feeds into it from time to time. This results in more speedy websites which perform well on all platforms – be it desktops, smartphones, tablets, etc. Below are the benefits of Progressive Web Apps:
1. Responsive layout for each device
Responsiveness is that the demand that each website must fulfill. It basically means a website fits itself consistent with the screen size of the gadget from which the website is accessed. nobody performs this better than Progressive Web Apps (PWA).
2. Affordable
PWA is affordable in the sense that if you use PWA, you do not need to develop different versions of the same website which might be compatible with different platforms. Thus, PWA helps you in reducing the value of the development.
3. No updates
Unlike the standard apps, PWA doesn’t use the standard installation process where the users are directed to Google Play Store or Apple App Store for downloading updates. Instead, PWA is smart enough to update themselves when the visitor accesses the website. Therefore, because of no conventional updates, it saves tons of your time for the visitors.
4. Push notifications
These refer to the short messages displayed to the users for informing them about different activities. These are common on native apps also as web apps.
5. Less storage space
One of the most important advantages of PWA is that it takes up less memory space, while the standard native apps take up to 50 MB or more space in a smartphone, the PWA version takes not more than 2 MB space on your smartphone.
6. Linkable
This means that the PWA is easy to share because of the URLs.
Now that I have stated the advantages of PWA for you, here is another happy news- Literally, any website can be a progressive web app!
Here are the three criteria you would like to think about for a PWA –
Your website should be running under HTTPS
You will require a web app manifest for your website
You will require a service worker
Putting in simple terms, PWA aka Progressive Web App may be a general phrase that describes building websites with a futuristic approach to satisfy the following:
- Responsiveness
- App-like interactions
- Safe
- Fresh
- Discoverable
- Installable
- linkable
Conclusion
In other words, PWA are the new, better, and upgraded combinations of a website and a mobile app.
Also, let us know what’s your mind speak about the PWA? Comment below.
Krunal Jungade is the founder of The Defender it is a professional web designing company in Surat, India. With over 8 years of deep expertise within the field of web development services and digital marketing, The Defender has catered to the requirements of 100+ clients from all over the world.