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Overview:

* Progressive Web Apps are apps that can run quickly in a browser, without needing installation on mobile devices;

* A key advantage of a PWA is development speed—it tends to be faster than building native apps;

* Today, major companies already use PWAs, such as Twitter, Uber, and Pinterest.

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With the growth of the app market in recent years, the development of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) gained momentum and became a very viable option for anyone who wants an app.

This type of application is interesting because it is more practical, accessible, and can increase customer engagement with your digital product.

In addition, PWAs are developed with less bureaucracy, since developers do not need to build separate versions for different operating systems.

Today, there are several success cases that show how practical it is to have a PWA in your company, such as Twitter and Pinterest.

There are also many advantages to using this type of solution instead of a native or hybrid app.

Want to learn what those advantages are and what the key characteristics of a Progressive Web App look like?

Let’s break it down below.

What are Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)?

Progressive Web Apps are simply applications that can run through a web browser.

Traditionally, to use an app, you need to open an app store and install it—whether on a smartphone, tablet, or computer.

With PWAs, that isn’t necessary. They can offer the same functions as a typical app, but are designed to run on the web.

This kind of digital product has been gaining space because of the convenience it offers users: there is no installation time and no need to consume device storage to use the services you want.

In practice, you simply access the website’s URL and the app works normally through the browser.

Developers also don’t need to worry about building different versions for operating systems like Android and iOS.

Instead, it is possible to develop a single system that serves different device types, since mobile browsers are a common element across most devices.

In the next topics, you’ll better understand the differences between PWAs and native apps, the advantages, and the technologies involved in building a Progressive Web App.

>> Talk to our specialists and understand the transformative potential of web development!

So, what are the characteristics of a Progressive Web App?

To define more specifically what makes a Progressive Web App, Google established a few guidelines to standardize development.

According to the Silicon Valley giant, a PWA should be progressive, responsive, and secure.

What does that mean?

It means this type of application must work for any user, regardless of which browser they use.

The system must adapt to different display formats—smartphone screens, computers, tablets, or smart TVs—and also use security protocols such as HTTPS, helping prevent user data from being compromised.

Google also suggests that PWAs remain functional offline (as native apps do) and be installable, allowing users to add the service to their home screen.

Overall, Progressive Web Apps should have basically the same structure as conventional apps, but without requiring installation, and they should also support features that allow interaction with users, such as push notifications and chats.

Differences between PWAs and native and hybrid apps

As mentioned earlier, PWAs have important characteristics that set them apart from conventional apps.

Native apps are the traditional applications you find in stores like Google Play and the App Store.

This type of product is custom built by a software company using predefined languages and resources, and it tends to offer stronger data security for users.

However, your business can become dependent on Google and Apple because you need to publish the app in their stores—those companies control what is listed.

Hybrid apps are a middle ground between PWAs and native apps.

This type of solution is developed both for operating systems like Android and iOS and for browsers, without losing user data during the transition.

Unlike native development (with more predefined stacks), this model can be built with a broader variety of programming languages.

Advantages and disadvantages of using Progressive Web Apps

1. Advantages

One of the main advantages of choosing this type of app is the shorter development timeline.

Compared to native apps, the development team does not need to learn very specific languages, since much of the project is built with HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.

That means you can deliver an MVP faster.

Later modifications can also be made more quickly, since you only need to update the website’s source code and deploy the changes—without requiring users to download update packages from an app store.

Another important advantage is that, even without users installing an app, key device features like location, cameras, storage, and microphones can still be used in a PWA.

2. Disadvantages

On the downside, the main limitation is the reduced distribution and discovery provided by app stores like Google Play and the App Store.

Since a PWA is not hosted in those stores, much of your product marketing will need to be done more manually.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a Progressive Web App cannot be too “heavy,” because on some devices the browser may experience interruptions or crashes—even though this is relatively rare.

Another disadvantage is perceived legitimacy.

Because this is still a newer app model, some users may be suspicious about security, since they are used to installing native apps and tend to trust them more.

Technologies behind Progressive Web App development

Once a company decides to adopt Progressive Web Apps, a set of technologies and web development methods become part of the product.

One of the first is the Service Worker. This technology is part of a system that can intercept application requests and securely store results for the client.

Similar to browser caching, Service Workers improve speed and performance in data consumption and can also allow the application to work offline.

Another common technology in app development is push notifications.

This feature is also used in PWAs and serves as an alert to users about updates, news, and new features.

It is widely used in social network apps and is now being adopted in Progressive Web Apps as well.

To keep your PWA aligned with web standards, it’s important—and mandatory—to have a document called the Web App Manifest.

This resource standardizes mobile web apps and makes it possible for users to add an icon to their home screen without installing the application.

As a result, users get faster navigation and you don’t lose important features you can offer in your system.

What are the main examples of Progressive Web Apps?

Even though PWAs are not fully consolidated in the market, major companies are already adopting them—signaling a trend for the coming years.

One of the biggest success cases is Twitter. The platform can be accessed through a web browser without installing the native app on smartphones.

PWA adoption also increased the number of users, since the system is lighter and does not require free storage on smartphones to work.

Another social network that has seen strong results is Pinterest. After launching its PWA, the company achieved great outcomes, especially in advertising.

According to the platform, there was a 50% increase in ad clicks and a 40% increase in time spent on the site.

Uber also had to adapt. To expand its services to locations where internet networks are less reliable, the solution was to invest in this type of app.

That’s because PWAs are lighter and can run more easily on low-speed connections, allowing users to use the service simply by opening the browser.

Overall, Progressive Web App development is expected to grow significantly in the coming years, potentially surpassing demand for native apps.

Now that you know more about this type of application, what do you think about bringing a PWA to your company?

Request a quote from X-Apps. In addition to evaluating the costs of your app, we can provide strategic consulting and help you assess the best alternatives for your company in terms of quality and cost-benefit.