11.03.2024

Progressive web apps – straight to your goal

The multitude of modern devices has greatly changed the way we access the web and interact with services. However, this diversity makes it difficult to develop innovative applications. One potential solution is the progressive web app. This special web application offers the same convenience as a classic application. It is fast, secure, can be used offline, but is accessible with just one click. We explain the special features of progressive web apps and clarify why this type of application will become more common in the future.

Rahul Chakraborty / Unplash*

What is so special about a progressive web app?

A progressive web app, or PWA for short, is an advanced form of web application. At first glance, it behaves like a normal website. It can be accessed normally in a web browser and we can interact with it as usual. But shortly after it is accessed, the first special feature comes into play in the background. Unlike ordinary websites, so-called ‘service workers’ are integrated. They enable functionalities that are normally reserved for applications installed on the device. One such feature is offline capability. When the web application is used for the first time, it is downloaded and stored in the background. Depending on the web application, certain functions can then also be used offline. Service workers can also replicate other features of classic apps. For example, they enable the use of push notifications even when the web application is closed.

As soon as we use a progressive web app on different devices, we can see another special feature. PWAs dynamically adapt to the screen size and allow both touch and mouse operation. This means that the web application can be used on various platforms such as smartphones, tablets, desktops or even televisions, provided, of course, that a web browser is installed.

This makes this web application almost identical to an installed – so-called native – app. It can be used offline and has a device-specific user interface. However, once a native app is installed, we can access it via our home screen. The special feature: a PWA can also offer us the option to install it. After this optional step, it is directly accessible via the start screen and can no longer be distinguished from a native app.

Why we should prefer to be progressive.

The progressive web app resembles a native app. This raises the legitimate question of why a PWA should be preferred to a native app. PWAs utilise the special interaction between web browsers and web applications. They benefit from developments in the field of web technologies. For example, modern websites communicate exclusively in encrypted form. Since the aforementioned service workers require such encryption, PWAs are very secure from the outset. With native apps, it is often up to the developers to decide whether secure communication is used.

This integration with the web browser also makes it even easier to develop applications than before. Websites can be developed faster and more cost-effectively than native apps. They can be easily adapted to different end devices, which means that parallel development and maintenance of multiple applications can be avoided.
This allows development to be better tailored to users. The application thus offers greater added value in less time.

PWAs are very easy to access via the web browser. One click or entering the URL is all it takes to get the application up and running. It can also be easily found via a search engine such as Google. Unlike native apps, there is no need to download them from the app store. Nevertheless, they can still be listed there. Once installed, PWAs use very little device memory, as most of the required memory is already installed in the form of the web browser.

What well-known progressive web apps are already available?

Progressive Web Apps are increasingly on the rise. Just a few years ago, the success of web applications was doubted because they were inferior to native applications in terms of performance. Thanks to improved web technologies and increasing device performance, this problem is a thing of the past. Even complex image editing programs like Photoshop or Office programs are now available as web applications. It is not uncommon for seemingly native applications to be web applications. Therefore, the number of PWAs is also increasing steadily. Well-known examples of PWAs include the web applications of Spotify, Telegram, Twitter, and Booking.com.

We would also like to mention the Austrian platform TerraZo. This web application allows for the easy calculation of so-called application maps for agriculture and their use via GPS. If this website is visited with a compatible browser, such as Chrome or Safari, it can be installed with just a few clicks. It is then available as an app on the home screen. By developing as a PWA, multiple native applications do not need to be maintained, and new features are available directly on all devices. Innovative ideas and experiments with the application can be implemented much faster.

Are PWAs the future?

We summarize briefly: Progressive Web Apps are normal web applications, but they function like native apps and are device-independent. Web browsers are receiving more and more technologies to rival native applications. Additionally, the performance of the devices increases. Web applications have many advantages in development. Thus, the applications can be adapted more quickly to the needs of the users.

The number of web applications is increasing, and the benefits of an adaptable application are obvious. The developments towards PWAs are therefore a logical next step. We see in this type of application the possibility of giving more space to innovation and creativity. Instead of spending a lot of time on implementation, the goal of application development can be much more focused on the problem to be solved in this way.