Understanding What is a PWA: Meaning and Definition

Posted on: 04 Nov 2019 by Admin

This is the most comprehensive guide to What is PWA.
In the IT practitioners world, what is PWA? It is the most spoken word, which comes with the web app technology on the phone for real.
Let’s start
In the IT practitioners world, what is PWA? It is the most spoken word, which comes with the web app technology on phone for real.
Do you know why this much Spotlight on what is PWA
Let’s look at some interesting facts of what is Progressive web apps in web technology.
In the last few years, mobile users are increasing. Furthermore billions of people use smartphones which increases their quality of life.
So, the optimization of user knowledge on the phone is essential.
A quick snapshot on PWA

What is PWA?

An app which can act as a web page and native mobile app at the same time, to provide the best user experience.
If you are running a company and you are dedicating to get the customers engaged in your business. Definitely you will experience the web apps very close to the native apps.
Some of the peoples still thinking that PWA works with the help of UI frameworks, you are wrong not. PWA needs only the required components.
Let’s start discussing more what is PWA

What is the use of PWA?

You may experience in using messengers like WhatsApp, WeChat, Viber, or some other apps. In these platforms, you can access without the internet. Also, you can read and send a message to someone. But the reply message will send after the internet connection comes back.
This is what PWA guarantees to provide in web apps. This is what PWA guarantees to install in web apps. It allows web apps to load when there is no internet on your devices. It can sync in the background and gives native-like experience to users.
I hope you got an idea now about what is PWA.
Now let’s jump into

PWA features

Have you ever experienced an issue in the loading of a website due to internet issues? Or have you noticed that some websites might take too long for loading?
Well, these issues will solve by implementing PWA. Which can be fast, secure, responsive, make compatible for all browsers, etc.
let’s have a look into more benefits of PWA.

  • Fast – With the help of PWA website contents can load 3 times faster even with slow internet speed. Secure – Most of the sites today have security reasons. Proving more security PWA provides a secure environment by implementing HTTPS connections.
  • Responsive – Having a responsive website is an essential factor for websites. PWA sites put in place responsive design strategies. To provide a consistent experience on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
  • Cross-browser compatible – PWA sites work well on all modern browsers. Such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari.
  • Offline Mode – This is one of the most dominant factors of PWA sites. It uses a cache mechanism so that a user can access without the help of the internet or having low internet speed.
  • Mobile “Install” – Most of the users don’t encourage downloading apps due to less space or hardware issues. So with the help of PWA, this issue can solve by saving the website and with this, it will act as a Mobile App.
  • Shareable content – Each page in a PWA site has a unique URL that can share with other apps or social media.

Beyond these, you can learn how to implement PWA in Magento 2 with this simple guide.

How PWA make websites work offline?

I have the same thought on PWA. You may be considering this how web apps work without the internet?
Let’s start a progressive web app with an example
Imagine if you are on a long trip either away from your town. You may open your fav mobile apps. Sometimes it may not work due to the poor internet connection, you may get frustrated at that time.
Here comes the answer for you about what is PWA (Progressive web apps).
The mobile app works on API, Framework, Designs, Development, User Features, and many.
Once you download and install an app on your phone some data is store in the device.
I will give a quick example for better understanding
When a browser loads the file, it will ask whether you allow data to cache on your device.
Such access allows web-based mobile apps to work. Even the user loses their Internet connection.
PWA follows the same method to work offline with the function called service workers. This allows you to continue loading the app even if there is no internet connection on your device..

What are service workers in PWA?

In PWA Service workers intend to control network requests. And serve in offline, caching contents, Push Notifications, and background syncs.
Once you start something to load service worker starts running and only as long as the process needs it.

What is the Web App Manifest File in PWA?

The web app manifest is a JSON file that represents the browser about your web application. And how it should behave when ‘installed’ on the user’s mobile device or desktop. Having a manifest in Chrome to show the Add to Home Screen.
A manifest file includes the app name, icons it should use, the start_url it should start at when launched.
Here is an example of a Manifest File

{
"short_name": "Eglobe",
"name": "Sample manifest filename",
"description": "Sample manifest file",
"icons": [
{
"src": "/images/icon_file_name.png",
"type": "image/png",
"sizes": "192x192"
},
{
"src": "/images/icons-512.png",
"type": "image/png",
"sizes": "512x512"
}
],
"start_url": "/?source=pwa",
"background_color": "#3367D6",
"display": "standalone",
"scope": "/",
"theme_color": "#3367D6"
}

 

By reading this blog you came to know what is PWA

As it Concludes

Most of the CMS like Magento, WooCommerce, Shopify, etc have become compatible with PWA.And above here you might be able to understand the various problems faced by companies in the world. I am pretty sure that PWA can help your website react faster.