WHAT IS: Progressive Web App (PWA)
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a type of web application that aims to provide an experience similar to native mobile apps for users, while still being accessible through a web browser.
Mobile apps have quickly become the gateway to everything. From ordering food to checking your bank balance, there’s probably an app. But the thing is, building those native apps can be complex, expensive, and time-consuming. Not every business can afford to build separate apps for iOS and Android, then maintain both versions indefinitely.
This is where Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) come in. PWAs are an exciting solution that combines the best of the web and mobile worlds. They behave like apps but are built using web technologies. You don’t have to download them from a store, and they run right in your browser
Let’s dive deeper into what makes PWAs so useful, how they work, and why they’re increasingly becoming the go-to option for businesses of all sizes.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
What is a Progressive Web App?
A Progressive Web App is essentially a website that behaves like a native app. It’s built using common web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, but it's enhanced by modern browser capabilities that allow it to do things we typically associate with mobile apps, such as working offline, sending push notifications, or being added to your phone’s home screen.
When you open a PWA, it feels and functions just like any other mobile app. For instance, if you open the Twitter Lite PWA, you can scroll, post tweets, and receive notifications, just as you would on the regular Twitter app. The key difference is that the Twitter Lite PWA runs in your browser and doesn't need to be installed through an app store.
How PWAs Differ from Native Apps and Traditional Websites
Native apps are what you typically download from a platform’s app store. They are built specifically for an operating system. iOS apps use Swift, Android apps use Kotlin or Java. These fast apps can access device features like the camera, GPS, and offline storage. But they’re also expensive to develop and maintain, especially if you need to support both iOS and Android.
Websites, on the other hand, are accessible through a browser and are platform independent. You don’t need to install them, which makes them accessible to more users. However, traditional websites lack some of the powerful features native apps offer, like offline use, push notifications, or direct access from the home screen.
Progressive Web Apps combine the accessibility of websites with the power and feel of native apps. They load quickly, work offline, and can be installed on your device. The best part is that they’re built with one codebase that works across all platforms.
Features of Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
1/ Responsive Design
PWAs adjust gracefully to any screen size, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or desktop computer. You don’t need separate versions for different devices, which simplifies development and ensures users have a consistent experience everywhere.
2/ Installable
While you won’t find them in the app store, PWAs can still be “installed” directly from your browser. When you visit a PWA, you’ll often see a prompt that says something like “Add to Home Screen.” Clicking this installs the app on your phone just like a native app, complete with its icon and full-screen experience.
3/ Offline Functionality
Thanks to a technology called service workers, PWAs can store information in your browser’s cache. That means even when you’re offline or have a poor internet connection, you can still browse content you’ve previously loaded. Some apps even queue your actions and sync them once you’re back online.
4/ Push notifications
PWAs give users real-time updates without needing to keep the app open. This keeps engagement high, even when the user isn’t actively using the app.
5/ Search Engine Friendly
Since they’re built on the web, they can be indexed by search engines, making it easier for users to discover them through Google or Bing, unlike native apps, which rely heavily on app store rankings.
Benefits of Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
1/ Better Performance and User Experience
PWAs load incredibly fast. Thanks to service workers and caching strategies, most of the content is available instantly after the first visit. This speed translates to happier users and higher engagement. Twitter Lite, for example, loads in under 5 seconds over a 3G network. Compared to its full native app, it uses 70% less data and has a footprint of just 600KB (versus the full app’s 25MB).
2/ Increased Engagement and Conversions
Because PWAs can be added to the home screen and send push notifications, they help businesses stay connected with users. This kind of direct channel leads to higher engagement. Pinterest rebuilt its mobile site as a PWA and saw an increase of 60% in user engagement. They also cut the time users spent waiting by over 40%, which directly improved retention.
3/ Offline Support and Reliability
One of the biggest frustrations with mobile apps and websites is poor connectivity. PWAs solve this by caching important data so users can still browse products or read articles even when offline. When the network comes back, updates are synced silently in the background.
4/ Cross-Platform Compatibility
Instead of building and maintaining separate apps for Android, iOS, and desktop, PWAs give you one codebase that works everywhere. This simplifies development and ensures feature parity across platforms. For companies, this means significant cost savings.
5/ SEO Benefits
Unlike native apps, PWAs can be crawled and indexed by search engines. That means your app content can show up in Google search results, boosting discoverability and organic traffic.
Tools and technologies for building PWAs
1/ HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
These form the core structure of any PWA. These are the building blocks of the user interface and interactions.
2/ HTTPS
HTTPS is mandatory for PWAs. This ensures that all data between your app and the user is securely encrypted.
3/ Web App Manifest
This is a JSON file that tells the browser how the PWA should behave once installed. It includes details like the app name, icons, background color, and screen orientation.
4/ Service Workers
The service workers are the real engine behind PWAs. These are background scripts that intercept network requests, cache data, and enable offline access. They also handle push notifications and background syncing.
5/ App Shell Architecture
This ensures that your core interface loads quickly, even on slow networks. It separates the static UI from dynamic content, so users never see a blank screen.
Gabriel Ojeh
Conclusion
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) are changing what it means to build for the web. By combining the accessibility of traditional websites with the power and feel of native apps, they offer a compelling solution for modern users and forward-thinking businesses alike. They work offline, load faster, can be installed on home screens, and support push notifications, all without app store overhead.
From startups to tech giants like Twitter, Pinterest, and AliExpress, businesses are adopting PWAs to increase engagement, cut costs, and reach more users, especially in markets with slow internet or low-end devices. And the numbers don’t lie, we have faster load times, boosted conversions, and huge reductions in data and storage usage.
