Progressive Web Apps: Why use PWAs for your projects?

When was the last time you ordered a coffee from your browser? From fashion wear to your favorite cappuccino, everything is available online. However, with the rise of smartphone usage, progressive web apps (PWAs) have been the go-to strategy for many businesses.

It is a web application that offers native capabilities for your website using technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript on a user’s device. Though it is not just about native capabilities, PWAs are faster and smaller compared to native mobile apps.

But why is PWA crucial to your business?

A web page takes 26.3 seconds to load on a mobile device fully. At the same time, a website that loads in one second can have 5x conversion rates than one which will load within 10 seconds. Therefore, there is no denying that you need faster web page loading on mobile devices; this is where progressive web apps help.

Using PWAs, you can not only enhance the user experience by adapting to the native features of a Mobile device but also improve loading speeds. Therefore, here is a definitive guide on PWAs for your projects with comparisons, attributes, and reasons to use them.

What is a Progressive Web App?

PWAs are web applications that users can install on their devices and run without local storage. Unlike full-fledged mobile applications, progressive web apps are native versions of websites that provide faster loading speeds, offline capabilities, and the ability to run on browsers.

Search engines index a progressive web app. It allows you to improve rankings through optimized Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

PWAs offer the experience of a full-fledged mobile application despite being a web application. So, the user experience of a progressive web app is better. The best part of using a PWA for your business is the support for native features.

Progressive Web App attributes

When you compare a native application with a progressive web app, many attributes differ. PWAs especially have better offline capabilities and user experience.

Easily discoverable.

Web applications because search engines index them. So, users can search for a PWA on search engines and install it directly on their devices.

A simple example is browser-based PWAs like YouTube music or Twitter. You can search and access them on a browser or install them locally on your devices.

Shareable and linkable

PWAs can be installed through a link sent to the user’s device. Therefore, you can link your PWA to a URL and send them to the user through email.

You can use this attribute across marketing channels. You can send installable web app links during social media interactions or link them to a CTA on the website.

Network-independent and highly responsive

PWAs are network independent does not necessarily require higher bandwidth. Further, progressive web apps are responsive across screen orientations and browsers, improving the user experience.

Re-engageable and secure

You can use PWAs to re-engage with customers by sending push notifications on their devices like a native application. Further, progressive web applications are also protected due to HTTPS protocols.

All you need is an SSL certificate installed on your website to secure the communication between the web app and the user’s device. You can buy SSL certificate from a leading certificate authority and install it on your website.

There is no denying that PWAs are responsive, secure, and fast. But are these attributes enough, or should you simply make your websites responsive instead? Let’s find out!

PWAs vs. Responsive websites

Progressive web applications and responsive websites are both designed to deliver enhanced user experience, but they have some differences,

Should you practice a PWA or a responsive website?

A responsive website provides customizations that integrate the brand design easily into the site. At the same time, progressive web apps are faster and offer SEO benefits. So, choosing between them will depend on specific project requirements.

For example, if you need to develop a website that provides user experience customizations to align it with your brand style, However, if you need a website with advanced features like offline mode, installable home screen app, or better loading speed PWAs are the best choice.

PWAs vs. native apps

Progressive web apps and native applications are popular among businesses offering better customer experience. However, both serve different purposes and are so different in many aspects, like development process, performance, accessibility, and discoverability.

How does a Progressive Web App (PWA) work?

Progressive web apps are designed to be easily accessible through the internet. So, when a user can visit your website designed as PWA through a browser, it will automatically prompt the users to install the PWA on their devices.

When the user selects the option to install a progressive web app, a service worker will be registered in the background. It enables the PWAs to work offline, push notifications and offer other features which resemble the native environment.

So, whenever a user returns to the PWA from their home screen, the service worker will update the app’s data cache. This will allow the PWAs to work without higher network bandwidth or an active internet connection.

Further, PWA uses responsive designs to adjust content according to screen size and optimize the user experience. Progressive web apps can use APIs to offer advanced features like camera, microphone, and location services.

Now that we know how PWAs work, let’s discuss some of their key benefits.

The benefits of a Progressive Web App

Progressive web applications provide several key benefits compared to a native application like

• Better functionality- PWA offers better functionality across devices which makes the website experience more user-friendly.
• Enhanced performance- PWAs are designed for better performance and faster loading times for your web pages.
• Cross-platform compatibility-You can use PWAs across platforms like iOS, Android, and others.
• Ease of use- Users can easily use PWAs accessible from their home screen with faster loading of web pages.
• Native-like experience- PWAs provide an experience close to native apps without developing a full-fledged application.

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Conclusion

In a mobile-first market, engaging users is not easy; you need responsive applications, which offer native-like experiences. Progressive web apps provide higher functionality, close to native-like features, and offline capabilities making them an ideal choice.

The best part of using a PWA is its accessibility, making your business far more accessible for users to interact with. So, if you want a faster, secure app that offers better experience user PWAs.