Progressive Web Apps: definition and benefits

A digital project can be created following various paths and working methodologies, and it is not always easy to choose the best one, especially if you are a beginner. For this very reason, we at SHM Studio have decided to talk to you about the world of progressive web apps, a type of "hybrid" web application that is already revolutionizing the web marketing, communication, and e-commerce.

Nowadays, almost 50% of global internet traffic occurs via mobile devices, and therefore it is no longer enough for a website to be user-friendly. Users desire fast and intuitive experiences, and it is from this need that the progressive web apps , or PWA (progressive web app, English acronym).

What progressive web apps are and how they work

Progressive web apps sit halfway between a native app (meaning downloadable from the Apple Store/Play Store and created specifically for distribution in these channels) and a website viewable from the browser, trying to give you the best of both worlds. The goal is therefore to provide a user experience that is as similar as possible to the completeness of a native app, but which can be accessed with any type of web browser.

In this way, the barrier that exists with normal applications, such as store searching, downloading, and manual updates, is eliminated. In addition to this, a PWA provides a very lightweight, fast, responsive, and interactive user experience, with all the features that a true native app would have.

Progressive web apps don't have a real online store, but you can download and install them on your device directly from the site (e.g. if you want to download the Starbucks PWA, you can do it directly from the official page). Sometimes you can install them directly from the URL bar, while you will need to look for the "share" button and then download and use it immediately.

The 3 principles on which PWAs are based

These progressive web apps can be used by all major browsers since they make use of standard technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript, which are basic programming languages.

We can still talk about three main technological components regarding how PWAs work:

• The Service Workers : these are JavaScript scripts that run in the background. They allow, for example, navigating the web app even in offline mode (one of the main advantages of PWAs over native apps), viewing previously visited content, or even receiving push notifications. In addition, they keep the app updated without the need for manual updates.
• Web App Manifest : simply put, this file tells the web app how it should behave, and contains all the information to allow the user a native app-like experience. For example, this file contains the site's URL, the ability to appear as an add-to-home icon on a smartphone, as well as display settings, descriptive name, and default language.
• HTTPS : this standard does not affect the user experience of the progressive web app in any way, but it is a fundamental component of the whole, as it guarantees browsing security and the visitor's privacy.

The major advantages of a progressive web app

This type of application offers a series of interesting advantages, although they are not the best choice in every case. For some more complex projects, a traditional native app might be preferable, while for others a PWA could be more than sufficient.

Having already discussed some obvious advantages (security, the possibility of offline use, compatibility with almost all browsers, and automatic updates), we can still identify others thanks to which these progressive web apps are gaining more and more space in the digital market.

General benefits

First of all, they consume a very limited amount of memory since there is no data download but only the link to a web page. This allows them to function even on older generation devices. They are easily shareable by simply sending the URL and are easy to program, whereas a native app can take months or even years before being released in the store.

Still talking about digital stores, both the Play Store and the Apple Store impose very strict limitations on all apps present. Developing a PWA allows you to bypass these limitations and program it in the way you want without having to adhere to imposed rules.

Speaking of user experience and performance, progressive web apps are extremely fast to load thanks to the advanced caching provided by the aforementioned Service Workers. This leads us to talk about the advantages in SEO perspective.

SEO benefits

The loading speed of an application or a site significantly affects Google's ranking, and consequently the SEO positioning of the page. Even a pleasant and interactive user experience contributes to the improvement of indexing: more time spent on the site equates to a positive influence in terms of SEO . 

All this represents the intrinsic advantage of the nature of progressive web apps. Being accessible from the browser, and therefore not downloadable from digital stores, the content is indexable by search engines like Google. Here improves the application's visibility and therefore its use, solving the real problem of native digital apps. If we think about it, in fact, how many of us still install apps on our phones, if not the main and most famous ones?!

The problem with native apps is their difficulty in becoming known to the general public, but with PWAs this obstacle does not exist.

Brief examples of commonly used progressive web apps

Many websites and social network have long developed a progressive web app, achieving great success in terms of access and direct interactions. This is especially true for e-commerce sites, which have seen a dizzying increase in traffic after releasing their PWA.

To give an example, Youtube has an official PWA that can be installed directly from the site. An icon will appear on the desktop, like a real native app, and it will be possible to listen to the latest news, choose songs, make playlists, and watch video clips.

Even some e-commerce apps, like Trivago , Starbucks and Uber have a PWA that in recent years have been enjoying enormous success with the public, allowing these companies to increase their online visibility.

Many social networks have also long since created their own progressive web apps to improve the user experience. Twitter (now "X") , Pinterest and Tinder they already have their own downloadable PWA, and this allows users to interact with their favorite content even offline, much faster than with their native apps and with practically no memory footprint.

As a digital agency, we at SHM Studio take care of your business growth also through the creation of professional web apps. Thanks to our extremely qualified developers, we work to ensure high performance and cross-platform compatibility. Our experience guarantees a top-quality product designed for the specific needs of each client. Tell us about your project and together we will find the best solution to create it.