Have you ever been browsing a site, only to be prompted to add it to your home screen? You’ll immediately download a mobile app from the corresponding website without going through the app store when you click yes. You’ll also be able to view this app when you are offline.
This is called a PWA or a Progressive Web App. Today, Builder.ai will be talking about these types of applications and how they could be considered the future of mobile web apps. Within this article, we’ll be looking at the following topics:
- How do PWAs work?
- Why are PWAS the future of web apps
- How to build a PWA
- How Builder.ai can help you create a unique PWA for your business
Read on for more information.
PWA is an application that runs on desktops and mobile devices but only uses a single code base across all platforms. These apps use plugins, a comprehensive digital ecosystem, and a more extensive community than native apps. They are also much easier to create and maintain than their native counterparts. In addition, PWAs are built with HTML and JavaScript, which allows developers to bind JS models to HTML views.Why Are PWAs the Future of Web Apps?
Nowadays, many companies choose PWAs because they offer hyper-growth and improved efficiency. According to Statista, in 2020, 24% of companies said they would be investing in PWAs, while 11% stated they already had a PWA for their business. Most experts would say PWAS are the future web apps, and that is because they offer the following benefits:
- Offline access
- Improved user engagement
- Seamless integration
- Cross-platform accessibility
- Easy to rectify any bugs
- Very speedy
- Pleasing performance levels
- Native-app flexibility
How to Build a Progressive Web App
While a PWA offers numerous benefits and advantages, one of the biggest positives is you do not need to rewrite the entire application to transform it into a PWA. Instead, you simply need to add a few programming layers by following the steps below:
Add a web app manifest
A JSON file includes essential information about the mobile application with the browser. These details include the app’s icon, name, and background color, among others.
Register a service worker
The service workers’ job is to operate in the background as an event-driven worker, then act as the proxy between network and application.
Create an application shell
Basically, the application shell is what the user sees when they open the app. Therefore, the shell should load quickly and exist in CSS and index HTML.
Served over HTTPS
Every PWA needs to be served over HTTPS, allowing secure access to the platform. Service workers can also install the app on the home screen.
Build Progressive Web Apps with Builder.ai
If you are interested in creating a PWA, Builder.ai should be your first port of call. You do not even need to know anything about writing code or building apps to get started. Create high-quality PWAs that function both online and offline on any browser. There’s no need to settle on a native app when you can create a platform that runs smoothly and engages users on any device or screen size.
We’ll help you create a responsive and fast PWA that feels like a native app in both interaction and features. PWAs also give your business more chance of being discovered, as they can be indexed by all significant search engines, including Google and Bing.
If you’d like to know more about our PWA app builder services, click here.
