Technology

What is a PWA (Progressive Web App)?

The development of all mobile devices is moving at an incredible pace. Each of them now has access to the Internet and thus the possibility of downloading applications. Above all, this is why a new generation has emerged, namely the PWA. Why are Progressive Web Apps being developed and where are they being used?

What is a PWA?

As already mentioned, these are progressive solutions, which aim to maintain the greatest possible functionality regardless of the operating system of the device used and the quality of the Internet connection. The idea is to make these applications the best they can be, regardless of the device and the location from which you are connecting. When you access a PWA-enabled website, the content is saved in your device’s memory, which makes the application work more efficiently and allows you to access the website without an internet connection (offline mode).

What are the main advantages of PWA applications?

One of the first advantages is that they work in offline mode. This means that the content of a website can be successfully read even if there is no internet connection. Thus, any journey by plane or train can be much more pleasant! Besides, web applications run very smoothly and are extremely easy to install. Thanks to dynamic access to databases, all operations are smooth and the user can enjoy all hardware capabilities. This means that progressive solutions can use geolocation or access to a camera or camcorder.

Why does creating PWAs instead of native apps save time and money?

A native app is created for a particular platform. This means that one version of the application can only work on iOS or Android, and the program must be written in a dedicated language. Thus, if the project is to be available for as many users as possible, the software must be written in several variants. It is worth adding that the application will work only if it is connected to the Internet.

Here, PWA-type solutions have an advantage, because you only need one version that is compatible with each platform. In this way, you can save time and resources when creating the project.

Many users confuse progressive apps with native apps. Although they share some similarities, such as responsiveness, location recognition and push notifications, they are very different. It is worth noting that native models do not have, for example, the ability to link to other sites and very fast installation. The main difference, however, is that native apps only work on one dedicated platform and not on all systems.

How do I install a PWA app on my phone?

It is not a very complicated operation. All you need to do is visit a site with a progressive app on your device. If it is installed on the site, you will be asked whether to add it to the home screen. Just click “YES” and after a few seconds, the application will be on the desktop of your device. As you can see, the whole operation is not very complicated and every owner of a mobile device can cope with it.

In conclusion, the introduction of progressive solutions on the market has started a new fashion for their creation. In this way, on more and more sites you can get a message asking about adding an application icon to the home screen. As you can see, the demand for this type of programme is considerable and users can enjoy a very functional product.

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