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A Comprehensive Guide To Progressive Web Apps(PWAs)
What Is Progressive Web App(PWA)?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is application software that is delivered through the web. It is a website that functions just like a native app. The PWA is built using universal web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. The PWAs are built to work on any platform using the browser including both desktop and mobile devices.
Progressive Web App is a Google Innovation designed to fuse the best of both websites and mobile applications, progressive web applications make use of the latest technologies. PWAs are taking over the future. PWAs fit right in terms of budget, features, development time, and many more.
From the development perspective, Progressive Web Apps are simple to develop, test, and maintain. Since the arrival of progressive web applications, many businesses have jumped on to this platform and reached new markets, and elevated their user experience.
At Startupmart, we develop a potent Progressive Web App giving an excellent user-experience that is so consistent and seamless, through which users can’t just tell the difference between a PWA and a native mobile application.
It’s Time To Go Mobile.
Since the landing of smartphones, the Internet is divided between mobile and desktop. The number of people browsing the web on mobile devices is increasing day by day. Mobile apps overcame the usage of websites in the beginning stage. Moreover, all the businesses shifted their venture from websites to mobile apps, as it allows them to offer high user-experience, content, and better user engagement.
According to the Annual Internet Report Of Cisco, it is expected that the global mobile devices will grow from 8.8 billion in 2018 to 13.1 billion by 2023. It is crystal clear that mobile is today's and future's Internet. In today's digitalized world, if you want to secure an unshakable marketplace switch to mobility solutions like Progressive web applications.
Native Apps Vs Progressive Web Apps
Native apps specially developed for specific mobile operating systems such as iOS/Android and are directly installed onto the device. Users need to download the app from the Apple app store, Google play store, etc. Whereas Progressive mobile apps are websites that look like mobile apps and functions similar to native apps but through the browser.
Programming Language:
Native apps are written to run on mobile devices, while PWAs are written to run inside the browser. PWA uses HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on the other hand native apps use separate programming languages from each platform.
Cost:
PWA requires lower cost and time than native apps. Also, PWA is faster to build and update. Native apps are needed to submit to different app stores, but for PWA all the users need is a web browser and a URL. This helps your app to reach a large audience in a short time.
Discoverability:
ASO, App Store Optimization is required for native apps and SEO, Search Engine Optimization is needed for PWAs. It is difficult for native apps to rank on the search engine. On the other hand, PWAs can easily get ranked like any other website.
Security:
As PWAs are running under HTTPS, it is safer than other normal web apps.
Download Installation:
PWAs have an easy installation with download. They need no app store, installation, download time, and space. Whereas, the native apps need all of the above.
Functions:
PWAs also have all the features and functionalities of native apps with some limits.
Websites Vs Progressive Web Apps
Normal websites are websites that are built to be accessible from a wide range of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones. Progressive Web Apps is a type of regular web app but with some extras that enables it to deliver an excellent user experience.
How Progressive Web Apps Are Helping Brands?
Treebo is a hotel chain that operates on franchising. PWA helped them to 4X increase their conversion rates compared to their smartphone application. They also found the engagement of repeated users in PWA which ensures how secure and fast.
Pinterest an image sharing and social media platform rebuilt and relaunched as a PWA. They showed a 60% up graph in core engagement and a 40% rise in user-generated ad revenue. Pinterest is the best example of how to show the customers exactly what they needed using PWA.
Tinder, a popular online dating application, also uses progressive web applications. They reduced their loading time from 11.91 seconds to 4.69 seconds.
Uber's PWA was designed to be the fastest even on a 2G network. It takes only 3seconds to load on a 2G network. This witness how the speed of PWA can help one's business. It attracts users even in low internet data.
What are the attributes that make an app a PWA?
There are some distinguished attributes that make an app a PWA. Mentioned below are some main progressive web apps features.
1. Progressive
A progressive web app should be irrespective of operating systems and devices. With a single code base, it runs anywhere, any OS, and on any device. Progressive enhancement is a major factor that takes PWAs ahead of traditional apps.
2. Responsive
PWAs UI should fit any screen size. They look and feels like native apps and offers functionalities and gives flawless experience across all the devices
A PWAs UI must fit any form factor and screen size. A progressive web app looks good regardless of the device, has a near-native look and feel, and offers a seamless experience across all devices.
3. Offline Support
The PWA lets the service workers run even offline
4. Re-engageable
PWA uses push notifications to remind the users to engage more with the app.
5. Installable
To make it readily accessible, the progressive web app can be installed on the home screen of the device.
6. Linkable
Progressive Web Apps are easy to share, non-installable, and zero friction.
Why should one build a Progressive Web App?
There are many reasons to build a PWA. But some of them are listed below.
1. Quick Response to Users
With the flexibility to adjust for the layout as per the device, PWAs are highly compatible and responsible. As well, PWAs let us experience smooth scrolling and offer prompt responsiveness while interacting.
2.Easy Updates
Easy to update is the most impressive quality of PWA. with the lack of app stores as a mediator, users can take advantage of the updated version as you update it from your end.
3. Lightweight
PWAs are light weighted that eventually cuts the loading time and makes it faster. For example, Tinder's PWA cuts off the loading time from 11.91 seconds to 4.69 seconds.
4. Engaging User Experience
PWA uses push notifications to increase user engagement and offer an amazing home screen by giving a full-screen work region.
5. High-Performance Website
Using PWA the performance of the website can be improved as 53% of users abandon a website if it is too slow. Users take only 3 seconds to close the website if it takes more loading time.
Conclusion
Progressive Web Apps are the best of both worlds. They are parallel to native mobile apps that are able to run offline, send push notifications, etc. PWAs can be fastly developed, easily deployed, and easy to maintain. Likewise, It allows the users to effortlessly access all the features of a native app. We Startupmart - An On-Demand App Development Company has never failed in getting updated with new and upcoming mobile app technologies to upgrade our skills and business growth.
Muthu Priya is a enthusiastic Digital Marketing Executive who has strong background on-demand mobile app marketing, performance-driven habits and forward-thinking creativity to all programs she oversees. She writes about mobile app technologies, Startups, Industires. Stay in touch with the blog updates at Startupmart to know the trends of On-Demand Industry.
