Maria Teresa ItalianoThe Rise of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) in Web Development.
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) represent a new frontier in web development, combining the best features of native applications with the flexibility and accessibility of traditional web apps. PWAs are designed to run on any device with a modern browser, providing an engaging and reliable user experience.
The first significant use of PWAs was by Twitter with “Twitter Lite,” launched in 2017. Twitter Lite demonstrated the benefits of PWAs, offering a web application that ran quickly, had low data consumption, and was able to operate offline, providing a user experience comparable to that of native apps.
In this article, we will delve into what PWAs are and how to get the most out of this “progressive” technology.
What are the advantages?
PWAs combine the best of the web and native applications, offering significant advantages for both developers and users.
For developers, PWAs offer an efficient way to create cross-platform applications that work on a wide range of devices and operating systems. Using standard web technologies such as HTML, CSS and JavaScript, developers can create PWAs that automatically adapt to different screen sizes and deliver high performance on devices of various price ranges.
For usersi, PWAs offer a user experience with fast loading times, smooth navigation e Offline functionality. PWAs can be added to the device's home screen and run standalone, allowing users to easily access their favorite apps without having to go through an app store.
Key Technologies Behind PWAs
Progressive Web Apps are based on a set of modern technologies that enable them to deliver advanced functionality and high performance.
Among the key technologies that make Progressive Web Apps so powerful are Sservice worker, scripts run in the background by the browser to handle cache and network requests, allowing for offline operation and fast loading times. Another technology used by PWAs is the Web App Manifesto, a JSON file that provides the information the browser needs to install the PWA and integrate it into the user's home screen. PWAs also require a secure connection HTTPS to ensure data protection and security of communication between client and server. Finally, the Cache API allows you to store network request responses, further improving application performance and reliability.
Characteristics of PWAs
Responsibility: PWAs are designed to work across a wide range of devices and screen sizes, ensuring an optimal user experience on both smartphones and desktops.
Installability: Users can install a PWA directly from the browser, without going through an app store, getting an icon on the home screen for quick access.
Proven Reliability: Thanks to service workers, PWAs can work offline or in conditions of limited connectivity, quickly loading content already visited.
Involvement: Push notifications and other advanced features allow PWAs to keep the user engaged even when they are not actively present in the app.
Additionally, PWAs can leverage device APIs to access the hardware and software capabilities of the device, such as cameras, location sensors, and push notifications. This allows developers to create richer and more engaging user experiences, similar to those offered by native applications.
What is the difference between PWAs, native apps and web apps?
To start, native apps and Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) differ mainly in their construction and distribution. native app are developed specifically for a particular platform, such as iOS or Android, using programming languages and tools dedicated to that platform, such as Swift for iOS or Kotlin for Android. These apps are downloaded and installed through app stores such as the Apple App Store or Google Play Store, and have full access to the device's hardware features, such as the camera, GPS, and motion sensors.
Le PWAs, on the other hand, are web applications that use standard technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript to provide a native app-like experience. They can run on any device with a modern browser and do not require downloading from an app store. Instead, they can be added to the home screen directly from the browser.
In short, while native apps are platform-specific and take full advantage of the device's capabilities, PWAs are built to be universal e accessible via browser, offering a consistent and flexible user experience across different platforms and devices.
On the other hand, developing a Progressive Web App (PWA) rather than a traditional web app offers numerous advantages in terms of user experience and functionality. PWAs can run offline, ensuring accessibility even without an internet connection, thanks to service workers that manage the cache and network requests. Additionally, PWAs can be installed on the device's home screen, offering a user experience similar to that of native apps, with the ability to send push notifications for continuous engagement. PWAs are also secure, requiring HTTPS to protect data and communications, and can be updated centrally, ensuring that all users are always using the latest version. Finally, developing a PWA allows you to cover multiple platforms with a single code, reducing development and maintenance costs compared to creating separate native apps for each platform.
Pros and Cons of Progressive Web Apps
Web apps represent a different approach than what we are used to with native apps or web apps, bringing with them, like everything, their own advantages and disadvantages.
Let's see specifically the PROS and CONS that you may encounter when using PWAs.
Pros of Web Apps:
- Offline operation: Thanks to service workers, PWAs can work offline or with unstable connections, improving accessibility.
- Installability: PWAs can be installed on the device's home screen, offering a native app-like experience without the need for an app store.
- Push notifications: PWAs support push notifications, enabling continuous and engaging communication with users.
- Cost Savings: A single code base works across all platforms, reducing development and maintenance costs.
- Centralized updates: PWAs can be updated centrally, ensuring that all users always have the latest version.
- Safety: The use of HTTPS ensures the security of communications and user data.
- Improved performance: PWAs offer fast loading times and a responsive user experience thanks to cache management.
Cons of Web Apps:
- Limited access to hardware: PWAs can't always access all of the device's hardware features, like Bluetooth or advanced sensors, like native apps can.
- Browser support: Not all PWA features are uniformly supported across all browsers, which may limit the user experience on some platforms.
- Poor user experience on iOS: On iOS, PWAs have limitations compared to native apps, such as the lack of push notifications in some cases and the lack of full support for service workers.
- Learning curve: Developing PWAs requires in-depth knowledge of modern web technologies, which may be a challenge for some developers.
- Limitations in intensive performance: For applications that require intensive processing, native apps can offer superior performance compared to PWAs.
Ultimately, the choice of whether or not to use a PWA will depend on the specific needs of the project, the resources available, and the preferences of the end user.
Examples of successful pwa
But who were the pioneers who first experimented with the use of PWAs, pushing more and more companies to explore this new technological paradigm?
Twitter Lite
Twitter Lite is a prime example of a PWA that has significantly improved the user experience. Launched in 2017, Twitter Lite is designed to be fast, reliable, and lightweight, reducing data consumption and making it possible to access even on slow internet connections. Thanks to service workers, it works offline and loads quickly even on low bandwidth. The app supports push notifications and can be installed on the home screen, offering a native app-like experience without the need to download the app from the app store.
📌 Pinterest:
Pinterest converted its web app to a PWA to improve user engagement, especially in emerging markets with limited internet connections. Pinterest's PWA is lightweight and offers smooth navigation even in less than optimal network conditions. After implementing the PWA, Pinterest saw a 60% increase in user engagement and a 40% increase in time spent on the app.
Alibaba
Alibaba, one of the largest online marketplaces, has adopted PWAs to provide an optimized mobile experience. Alibaba's PWA offers fast loading times and offline functionality, improving accessibility for users with slow internet connections. This move has led to a 76% increase in mobile conversions and increased user engagement.
