Progressive web apps (PWAs) have been trending in the technology world over the recent years and continue to stay relevant today. So what are they, and what makes them so special?

The term “progressive web app” was coined in 2015 by Google Chrome insiders to describe the new generation of web applications which can be loaded like websites while leveraging the features of modern browsers. In essence, PWAs are web applications that not only possess functionalities of web applications but also those of native applications. What’s more, a PWA can be accessed through web browsers on mobile devices and used like a mobile app. In this way, PWAs provide the sleek user experience of a mobile app to users — without the need to download the mobile app.

Some of the characteristic features of PWAs are their ability to use web browser features like Web App Manifest and Registered Service Worker. In addition to being fast, reliable, shareable, and without requiring constant updates at the user’s end, the advantages of progressive web applications include:

• Offline availability

Unlike typical websites, PWAs store information from users’ last online session and make it available even in the absence of internet connectivity. This makes it convenient for users as well as benefits businesses with better customer engagement.

• Reduced consumption of data

On average, PWAs consume 70% less data when compared to native apps, saving the end-users’ data and associated costs. This also makes PWAs “light”, so they load quickly and are more user-friendly.

• Greater visibility through URL access

PWAs, unlike native or mobile apps, are similar to regular websites in that they can be accessed with a URL. In addition to making them accessible without any kind of installation, a PWA is also easily discoverable online and indexable by search engines.

• App-like look and feel without app registrations

A PWA can be installed and users can easily “Add to Home Screen” through the Web App Manifest feature. This is possible without having to register the app or redirect the user to Google’s Play Store or Apple’s App Store.

• Improved Engagement

PWAs, like modern web apps, use Web Push and Notifications APIs to push updates and notifications to the users’ devices, even when the pages are not open on the browser.

So to sum up, progressive web apps benefit both the organization as well as end-users in many ways given their ease of use, availability, and enhanced cross-platform user experiences.

At CloudNow, our expertise in enterprise application development helps us to understand the unique needs of businesses and respond to them in the best possible way. To develop a progressive web app for your business, get in touch with us today!