Progressive web applications: what are they, advantages and examples

Broadly speaking, progressive web apps (PWA) are the fusion of two worlds, that of web applications and that of native apps. Relying on standard technologies such as HTML, CSS and Javascript, but based on a similar approach to mobile apps, we are talking about one of the technologies with the greatest potential today.

Let’s learn more about these apps, how they work, their advantages, and current examples of progressive web apps.

What are progressive web apps?

Progressive web apps are web apps that use APIs and emerging browser features along with a traditional progressive enhancement strategy to deliver a native app-like experience. They are halfway between a conventional web app and a native app.

These are cross-platform applications, being able to adapt to the way users can use them without sacrificing responsive design. Thanks to their adaptability, advanced user experience and security guarantees, they have become an emerging trend in app creation today.

The market for PWAs is growing every year worldwide. According to a Emergen Research study, the global market for these types of apps will be worth $10.44 billion by 2027. According to the same source, the value of the same market was $1.13 billion in 2020.

How do PWAs work?

Beyond the fact these technologies work from HTML, CSS and Javascript, the real heart of PWAs lies in the following elements:

• Service Worker: Allows a copy of the information to be saved with an active Internet connection, making it possible to use the application while offline. This also allows using functionalities in the background, as well as reporting each network request to the corresponding domain.
• Application Shell Architecture: Stores browsing data in the Service Worker cache, thus reducing load times when running the PWA. It is the root of the interface and the first thing the user sees.
• Application manifest: Specifies the features of the application and determines how the PWA will be displayed on the user’s screen.

Advantages of progressive web apps

Progressive web apps bring together the responsive and accurate design of native apps with the continuous updates and adaptability of web apps. The result? A product ready for any device and platform.

Along with this, these apps have attractive features that justify why they are getting more and more attention:

Platform independence.

This type of app is not limited to a specific operating system and can run on any device and browser, making them media with a huge reach across different types of audiences and users.

Push notifications

The tasks performed by the Service Worker allow a progressive web application to send push notifications to its users directly to their mobile devices. This is a feature used by many companies, as it allows them to make reminders to their users about different topics such as, for example, new updates on the platform.

Offline operation

These apps can work without an Internet connection, so users can access and use them even without stable connectivity. This is a very important plus in order to make the application as accessible as possible to as many people as possible, regardless of the characteristics of their network connection.

Low data consumption

In addition to being able to function without an Internet connection, **progressive web apps are also designed for low data consumption among users**.

An example of this is Jumia, a well-known online marketplace in Africa. According to Magenest data, users of the PWA version consume 80% less mobile data compared to users of the native version, at least in the initial transaction.

Better user experience

Progressive web apps offer a better UX than traditional web apps by relying entirely on a responsive design that allows them to adapt to different devices and platforms.

However, in general, **these apps do not usually surpass the quality of user experience generated by native apps**, as they are designed with specific devices and platforms in mind.

No installation required

PWAs do not require installation and can be used seamlessly from the browser, although some offer the option to download native versions of the app.

Progressive upgrade

As PWAs have new versions available, they will be updated in the background, taking advantage of the capabilities of the browser where they are being viewed and without forcing you to interrupt your use of the app.

Examples of progressive web apps

Now that we know some of the key features of PWAs, let’s look at the services we use in our day-to-day lives that fit this model:

1. Telegram

Telegram is a messaging service that bet on a PWA model, and it has done very well at it. Platform users see no difference in the app when using it in its progressive web format or in its native version. All functions are available in any presentation: broadcasts, file sending, channels, calls, chat, etcetera.

2. Spotify

The most popular music streaming service in the world is a progressive web application. Users can enter the app directly from their browser and play music and videos, as well as listen to podcast episodes, and the experience is exactly the same on tablets, mobiles and desktops.

3. HighTide

It’s a popular app among surfers. With HighTide, they can find out when and where the waves are the highest so they can get up close and personal and have a good time. It is an application that impresses a lot for its attractive and colorful visual design. It also stands out for the frequency of its updates and how they do not interrupt the experience at any time.

However, HighTide has the bad reputation of being slower than other apps of its kind, being below average.

4. Dev.to

It’s a platform similar to Medium in that both serve to host blogs. It’s well known in the world of web developers.

Dev.to stands out for its high performance because, being a blogging and news platform, it is full of textual and visual information that needs to be optimized, which is quite a lot of work.

5. Flipboard

This is an app where people can keep up to date with what’s going on in the world through independent content creators and media.

Initially, the mobile version was very slow because of the sheer amount of content it had to load. However, since adopting the PWA model, it works much faster and without requiring a lot of resources.

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Progressive web apps push the limits of traditional webapps to deliver a better experience for people regardless of the access point, making them a development model that will become more and more prominent as time goes on.

CodersLab developers are fully trained to develop and maintain such applications. We research the most important and useful technological trends and innovations in order to apply them as successfully as possible and to always be one step ahead of the market.