What Is a Progressive Web App and Why Should You Have One?

2/2/2023 | 3 min read

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Progressive web apps are a way to reach more customers and improve their experience of your website. But what are they? Learn what you need to know here.

Introduction

When the iPhone launched in 2007, hardly anyone knew what an app was. Now they’re such an integral part of our lives that people spend 4-5 hours a day on them. Our love of the app experience has driven the development of the progressive web app.

Apps are awesome, but they’re limited. For one thing, on your smartphone, you’re tied to native apps. For most people, that means those available in the App Store, Play Store, or Microsoft Store. But progressive web apps give you the functionality of an app without tying you down.

Let’s answer the question, what are progressive web apps? We’ll also explore why every business should have one.

What Is a Progressive Web App?

Let’s start our discussion by defining a few key terms:

Native apps: Traditional apps, coded to run on a specific operating system, that fully utilize features of the device, such as the camera, microphone, etc.

Hybrid apps: Similar to native apps, but also include an embedded browser, freeing it from the limitations of a single mobile OS.

Progressive web app (PWA): Capable of running on multiple operating systems, it’s a website masquerading as an app.

A progressive web app brings your website to life, making it function more like a native app. It still lives on the web, but you can add app-like features, like push notifications. It also hides the browser controls to give users an app-like experience.

Cut out the app stores

There’s no need for customers to go through an app store. Instead, they download the PWA directly to their home screen from your website.

A PWA should also be just as reliable and responsive as a regular app, providing a seamless experience for users. They’re a great choice for all businesses but are particularly useful in e-commerce, where user experience is paramount.

A dream for developers

Like a hybrid app, building a progressive web app involves using a web programming language. This is an advantage for a web design agency, given the relative ease and accessibility of web technology compared with programming languages for native apps. There’s no need to write multiple native apps to capture users with different devices.

Because they live on the web, not on an app store, progressive web applications are SEO-friendly. Search engines can index them, they’re searchable, and they can broaden your reach.

Let’s get technical

A progressive web app has two key features - the manifest and the service worker.

The manifest is a JSON file containing information about the PWA's look and feel. The service worker is a vital link between the app and the network. It enables the app to cache files, background sync, and load super fast.

Progressive web apps work both on mobile and desktops. All the user needs is a connection to the web. This gives you massive reach from a single code base.

Why Your Business Needs Progressive Web Apps

A progressive web app is more accessible than a website or a native app. But there are a few key features that make it a must-have, especially for e-commerce businesses:

Offline availability: You want to reach your customers all the time, not just when they have a strong signal. Progressive web applications can be accessed offline or when the Internet signal is poor.

Discoverable: Search engines pick up PWAs when native applications may get missed.

Add to their home screen: Like a native app, users can install the progressive web app onto their device, so it’s always with them.

Notifications: A progressive web app can notify users when new content, promotions, or news becomes available.

Works on all devices: It doesn’t matter whether your customer is using a desktop, mobile, tablet, or TV; the PWA will look great and provide a sharp, interactive experience.

Secure for e-commerce: Because progressive web apps are essentially websites, your business can still benefit from HTTPS and other security features embedded in modern browsers.

Your Progressive Web App Builder

No business can ignore the transition to progressive web apps. Get it right, and your website can reach almost everyone on the planet and provide an ultra-fast and responsive experience for customers.

At Web on Demand, our white-label website builder includes tools that let you create your own progressive web apps. Schedule a call today to discover how our website builder can help you reach more customers and grow your business.

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