Progressive Web Apps: What Are They And How Do They Work?

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are the upgraded version of mobile apps, which eliminate a lot of drawbacks. We will talk about them shortly but first, let's discuss a little about mobile apps.

Mobile applications have provided many benefits to the digital user base since their advent. Today, we rely impulsively on mobile apps, from simple tasks like checking a cricket match score to complex banking tasks.

And, why not? With the use of the latest technologies and frameworks, mobile applications are now much more secure and reliable. Moreover, they are capable of storing huge user and source code data and simultaneously seesawing it between the user end and the server end. Therefore, several advanced mobile apps are coming up with exceptional features every day.

But, with several advantages, mobile apps also have some drawbacks. These are storage problems when the user device doesn't have much storage space to download and install a certain app.

Even when the user device has an external storage card, most apps require ample space in the system storage and are therefore downloaded but not installed.

Another is compatibility, where the user device is not compatible with the app. Since apps with more advanced features are coming daily, the user devices often get outdated.

The former and the latter are the two most prevalent problems you might have also faced.

But today, the app market is further advancing, which provides much more convenience for the users in using the apps. This becomes possible with the subtle entry of Web apps or Progressive Web Apps into the market.

So let’s shed light onto,

What are the Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?

Introduced by Google, these are now prevalent worldwide, and you have probably used one. Think of a website that works and feels like an app when used to best understand.

But the difference is you don't have to download and install it on your phone. Instead, the app will work perfectly on your web browser, and that's why the name Web Apps or PWAs.

Let's understand this with an example you can relate to. There have been instances when you have clicked on the link of a certain product on Amazon. After that, despite the app being there on your phone, but as it's not set to default, your device gives you two options: first, to open with the Amazon app, and the second is to open with the default web browser.

So, when you select the second option, you are redirected to the web app version of Amazon, wherein your web browser, you get the carbon-copy experience of the actual app.

Several companies like Facebook, Whatsapp, Google, Netflix, and Flipkart have their web versions, which greatly boost their reach to the universal user base.

So, this is what Progressive Web Apps or PWAs are.

According to recent reports, the current market size of Progressive Web Apps is 1,100 million USD, which is expected to go up to 7.600 million USD by 2026. As a result, the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) will be 34%.

eCommerce companies worldwide are also investing in PWAs, but many are still evaluating, and some don't even know about it.

We learned a lot about PWAs, but a question might cross your mind, how these applications are built. So, they are built on the latest frameworks that favor the creation of robust web apps like the ones you have used in the companies mentioned above.

The major market players serving the base to build these web applications are Angular, DockYardInc, Enonic AS, IBM Corp, Ionic, Kreyon, and Microsoft.

The fact that web apps eliminate all the stereotypical hassles of mobile applications triggers companies to invest in them. Today, mid-sized businesses and small businesses are desperate to invest in building Progressive Web Applications.

The reason is with PWAs, businesses can target any user base, regardless of the device they use and its compatibility. If they have a smartphone or even a PC, web apps can run easily on their default browser.

So, now let’s talk about,

How do these PWAs work?

Already mentioned, PWAs are nothing but websites that serve you the purpose of an app without the need to download and install. The workflow of these is like this; the user sends a request to the webserver from where the webserver forwards it to the relevant server of the web application.

Now the web application server performs the task requested, generating output. The web application server then sends the output to the webserver, which response back to the client to display the output to the user.

You can refer to the diagram below to understand how the web server, web app server, and client browser work together.

These apps send, receive and store data from the user on the server-side scripts written by developers in PHP and ASP.NET scripting languages. The reason to use these languages is that they support the execution of code in the web browser.?

The user or client-side scripts are written in JavaScript and HTML5, which give high performing user-interfaces for the users. These languages are also web-supported, which means codes written in these languages are executable on the server.

This is how web applications or PWAs work, and if you want to develop one for your venture, you can contact a Progressive Web App development company like Swadesh Softwares.

Now let’s have a look at some of the,

Benefits of Progressive Web Apps, which you can get entitled to

Works Like a native app

These web apps perform like native mobile applications and deliver faster results. Users worldwide prefer the use of progressive web apps more than mobile applications.

Subtle updating

Unlike a mobile app, PWAs don't require any permission or prevent the user from not using it unless updated. The updates are on their own, as the apps are not present on your device. Instead are on the web server, from where it can update without the user experiencing any hassle.

Push notifications

These also support the feature of push notifications like native mobile apps. So, along with other advantages like no download and installation, faster loading, and extensive reach, companies can also accomplish their marketing efforts. Push notifications play a vital role in retaining the users' attention. Hence, PWAs are the ideal choice in this era of the audience with fast-changing interests.

Developing it for your company will aid in targeting the user base who don't have enough storage space on their devices to download an app.