In today’s article, we are talking about what are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) and how are they different from traditional websites and native apps.

Introduction to PWAs

Progressive Web Apps or PWAs are neither entirely websites nor are they native applications that you keep on your home screen. They are sort of in-between – combining the best of the two worlds.

Websites, as you already know, are a group of web pages compiled under a single domain. If you search literally anything on your browser, you’ll get a list of millions of websites related to that search term.

Native apps, on the other hand, are way different from a websites because it is ‘native’ to your system or device. You do not view them on a browser, but download them from an app store (like Google Play Store or Microsoft Store) They are the usual apps on your mobile or desktop like Gallery, Instagram, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, etc.

However, PWAs neither open up on a browser nor are they downloaded like native apps. Still, they stay on your home screen and function as smoothly as any other native app.

So, what exactly are these PWAs?

What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?

“A progressive web app (PWA) is an app that’s built using web platform technologies, but that provides a user experience like that of a platform-specific app.” as defined by Mmdn web docs. Here, ‘platform-specific app’ refers to a native app only, as they are specifically built for a particular platform like Android or iOS.

PWAs have several advantages over native apps. They occupy less space on a device, for one. When compared to websites, PWAs work much smoother and have an appealing design. Because of these benefits, and those which we will discuss later, many companies choose to have PWAs even if they already have a native app or a website.

Amazon, for example, has a native app that you can download from the Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS) and a website as well. In addition to that, Amazon has a PWA as well that you can install from the browser itself.

Let me show you how to install a PWA on your mobile…

How to install a PWA on your mobile?

We’ll use Myntra as an example…

Step 1: Open Chrome.

Step 2: Go to the Myntra website.

Step 3: Click on the three dots in the top right corner.

Step 4: Click on ‘Add to Home screen’.

After this step, Myntra will begin installing on your mobile device. Once it is installed, you can find it on your device along with your other native apps just like below.

I have also shown a comparison of Myntra as a website, PWA, and a native app below.

As you can see, the PWA appears almost identical to the native app. But it is quite different from the website, as it lacks the browser window.

To understand PWAs better, let us look at their characteristics now, after which we will talk about their technical features.

Characteristics of PWAs

• Discoverability: As PWAs are essentially websites, they are discoverable by search engines, unlike native apps.
• Installable: After installing, PWAs appear on your home screen (if you’re using a mobile) or your desktop (if you’re using your PC). That said, you no longer have to go to your browser and search for the website, to use it. With PWAs, you can find them simply on your screen just like any other app on your device.
• Network independence: A major advantage that PWAs have over their corresponding websites is they can work even without a stable internet connection. This network independence is possible because of caching and service workers (more on that later).
• Responsiveness: PWAs work on all devices and screen sizes – whether it’s a laptop, an iPad, or an Android mobile.
• Appearance: PWAs can become visually appealing and welcoming if they have the look and feel of the actual app. This includes using a recognizable app icon, internal appearance, and use of splash screens.
• Cross-platform: PWAs should work smoothly irrespective of the browser they are installed from or the device they are running on.

Technical Features of PWAs

• Web app manifest file: A manifest file is a JSON file that contains all the information for a PWA to install on your device. It includes things like the app’s name, icon, background color, behavior, etc. In other words, you may say that it helps the PWA to manifest on your device.
• Service worker: As discussed before, service workers help PWAs to work offline. They intercept the network and make decisions based on whether the internet is available. They also enable features like background sync and push notifications.
• HTTPS: Lastly, PWA uses the HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) connection to secure user’s data.

Progressive Web Apps vs Native Apps

Here’s a table summarizing the differences between PWAs and native apps…

Pros

• PWAs are more available and accessible than traditional websites or apps as they can work offline or with minimal internet connectivity.
• They have much better and faster performance while occupying much less space on the device.
• PWAs do not require manual updating, unlike native apps which need to be updated from the app store.
• They are more flexible as they work equally well on all devices and operating systems.
• PWAs are cost and time-efficient for smaller businesses and companies as users can directly install them from the browser. Traditional native apps are downloaded from the app store, hence, the companies had to pay a fee for publishing their apps on their app store.

Cons

• PWAs consume more battery than native apps as they work on the browser.
• Although they can perform a variety of functions, they still have limited functionality compared to native apps.
• Safety with PWAs is not fully assured as they undergo the app stores’ approval process.
• They may not work smoothly or full-fledgedly with legacy devices.

Conclusion

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are an efficient alternative to native apps. They can be easily installed from the browser and don’t even take up much space on the device. However, they aren’t safe enough for sensitive tasks like making transactions. Still, PWAs can be a profitable option for smaller businesses and companies who cannot afford to develop a native application and submit it to an app store.