Progressive Web Apps (PWA) is a way to build web applications that can provide users with a native-like experience, while still being accessible through the web. They combine the power of modern web technologies, such as Service Workers and Web App Manifests, with traditional web standards, such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

What makes PWAs so cool?

One of the coolest things about PWAs is that they are lightning-fast, thanks to technologies like Service Workers and Web App Manifests. PWAs can load and run quickly, even on slow connections.

And with offline capabilities, PWAs can keep working even when the user’s device goes offline, so you never have to worry about losing your data or getting stuck in a loading screen.

This is all thanks to the caching strategies. You can determine for each resource which one to use.

• Cache First – The app first checks if the resource is in the cache before making a network request.
• Network First – The app first makes a network request and updates the cache.
• Cache Only – Only uses the cached resources. Useful for resources that are needed for offline access.
• Network Only – Only makes network requests. Useful for resources that change frequently, like data from an API.
• Stale While Revalidate – Allows you to serve a slightly outdated version of a resource from the cache, while at the same time fetching a fresh version from the network in the background. This means that if a user requests a resource that is already in the cache, they will see that cached version immediately, even if it’s not the very latest version. When the fresh version is in the device, the screen is updated.

But it’s not just about speed and reliability – PWAs also look and feel like native apps, with features like push notifications, full-screen mode, and app-like interfaces. And with the ability to be added to the home screen, PWAs are always just a tap away, making them more accessible and user-friendly than ever before.

Also, let’s not forget about security. PWAs are served over HTTPS, so you can rest assured that your data is safe and secure. Plus, with easy updates and cross-platform compatibility, PWAs are a breeze to maintain and use across a wide range of devices and platforms.

What does it mean for business?

For starters, lower development costs. Because PWAs relies on the same web technologies used to build any other website, the development team doesn’t need to learn another language or framework (or even increase the manpower). This also means your development time is reduced.

Maintenance is also a major plus. Since the codebase is the same for all platforms, fixing and evolving your app is easier and faster.

PWAs examples

• AliExpress – After implementing its PWA, the conversion rates to new users increased by 104%. It also resulted in conversion rates on Safari increasing by 82%. Users now visit twice as many pages per session and the time spent per session has increased by an average of 74% on all browsers.
• Twitter – After implementing the “Add to Home screen” prompt asking users to add Twitter to their home screens, Twitter has seen 250,000 unique daily users launch the app from the home screen 4 times a day on average. Not only that, but the data consumption decreased by 70% as users scroll through their timelines.
• Spotify – The goal was to register new users for the free version who will update premium after witnessing Spotify’s incredible product experience. The monthly active users rose by 30%.

Here at AdvanceWorks we also like to give the example, so we’ve made a small PWA sample for you to enjoy. Check it out

Conclusion

Whether you’re building a new app or upgrading an existing one, PWAs are the way to go for a fast, reliable, and engaging web experience that your users will love.

Overall, PWAs represent a powerful way to build web applications that provide users with a fast, responsive, and engaging experience, while still being accessible through the web. As more and more businesses and organizations adopt PWAs, they will become an increasingly important part of the web development landscape.