Don’t Confuse with PWA

For some reasons, many people think that PWAs are Single Page Applications (SPA).

This is wrong, really very wrong (with status code 400 😄).

A SPA can be a PWA, but a PWA does not have to be a SPA.

PWA loves to work with everyone

Website built on any framework or library like ReactJs, Angular, VueJS or even in HTML can be a PWA.

In the simplest terms, a Progressive Web App is a mobile website transformed with additional features and functionalities that give it an ‘app-like’ feel. It works using an instance of Browser and uses service worker to ensure smooth operation even without a reliable internet connection.

If you have a myth that PWA is a Google technology then these pieces of information are enough to clear your myth. Progressive Web Apps are based on web standards. It works with every browser and every platform.

So it’s a website — but it feels like a native mobile app, with a splash screen, custom loading screen, smoother animations, push notifications, and no navigation bar. Your average end users can call it a mobile app.

Progressive Web Applications are websites that must meet three technical requirements:

Must Be Served using HTTPS (Secure)

Have a Valid Web Manifest File with a Minimal Specific Set of Icons

Should Register a valid Service Worker and Minimal Offline Support

Nowhere nothing in those requirements say that the website must use JavaScript. Well, in short, you must register the service worker using client-side JavaScript.

PWA supports features like below:

Pinning to a home screen — We can add our web app icon on a home screen.

— We can add our web app icon on a home screen. Push Notifications — We can integrate push notification like in a native app via Push API and Notification API for the web.

We can integrate push notification like in a native app via Push API and Notification API for the web. Splash Screen — A manifest file manages splash screen for your PWA for reach engagement like a native app

— A manifest file manages splash screen for your PWA for reach engagement like a native app Geo Location — We can access the user’s current location via Geolocation API

We can access the user’s current location via Geolocation API Offline Work Mode — Because of Service worker who manages caching mechanism, we’ll get rich user experience even if there is no internet.

Because of Service worker who manages caching mechanism, we’ll get rich user experience even if there is no internet. Accessing Media Features — We can access Microphone, Video and Camera Devices. Also, implement video and audio calling functionality using WebRTC API.

Overall, you do not need to develop a separate mobile app for the same project if your requirements are fulfilled with PWA’s features. It means PWA are still struggling to provide some native app’s features.

Yeah, that’s a wow moment for web developers. Other helpful features are already on its way. PWA is already looking forward to providing native app like features. Let’s take a look at those features which will really be helpful to us.

PWA will support the following features in the future like: