We will pick random examples here, companies whose business thrives due to their PWA’s, plus how React helps in making such apps!
Points of confusion: There is a difference in single page applications and progressive web apps. Websites are also different. Mobile apps also differ.
Looks like a mobile app!
Quick Update: But progressive web apps (or PWA) run across multiple platforms, offer great user experience, are high in performance, modern and do not require a download. They can be accessed by clicking on a link and look as good as mobile apps. They are indexed by search engines and deployed to servers.
Accessible via URL!
I do not wish to mask this interesting conversation by stuffing lots and lots of features here (you can always Google it). But I wish to showcase how PWA’s are implemented in the real world. Here is an example of MakeMyTrip – the famous travel booking app in India. Herein the PWA effect combined the simplicity of the web with the native mobile experience, improving conversion rates and page load times.
Do not require downloading and installation!
Starbucks the international coffee cafe chain implemented its business with a PWA, which resulted in a 99.84% smaller than the iOS app, and has doubted the number of web users who order frequently.
Performs like a native mobile app!
Jumia and Soundslices too became unstoppable with PWA helping Jumia increase its conversion rate by 33% and grow its user base 12 times + Trivago hotel search engine uses a PWA to respond to the challenge of more users accessing the service through a mobile device than on a desktop.
Highly performant!
Features are plenty and functionality makes it lucrative. They offer similar experience as native apps, improve conversion rates and require up to 300 times less storage than native apps. They do not insist users to visit the App Store or Play Store for installation. These come up with new features and bug fixes without requiring any manual action.
Quick response time, minimal turnaround time!
Progressive web apps achieve seamless updates by utilizing service workers that automatically check for new versions of the app files on the web server and update the cached data, ensuring users always have the latest version without needing to manually download updates from the app store. This process happens in the background. Service workers manage the update process to minimize disruptions to the user experience, often waiting until the current session is closed before activating the new version.
Updates automatically!
Progressive web apps are used across ecommerce platforms, news apps, social media apps, and travel apps.
They have the ability to deliver a near-native app experience with fast loading times, offline functionality, push notifications, and cross-platform compatibility, all while maintaining the accessibility of a web page, leading to improved user engagement and potential conversion rates for online stores.
File caching, work offline!
There is no dearth of industries for which PWA’s can be created – Finance, healthcare, insurance, Social Media, E-commerce stores, News and content platforms, Gaming apps, Travel booking platforms, and more. With a focus on providing fast, app-like experiences on mobile devices without requiring downloads, enhancing user engagement through push notifications and personalized features, and improving conversion rates due to seamless offline capabilities and secure payment options.
Discoverable by search engines!
Let React Take the Lead
React javascript library, is similar to Ionic, Polymer, AngularJS, Vue.js, Magento PWA Studio, and ScandiPWA frameworks, offering powerful combination for building high-quality web experiences as its component-based structure promotes code reusability and maintainability, making it easier to build complex PWAs. Its virtual DOM efficiently updates the user interface, leading to smooth and fast rendering, crucial for a good user experience. Moreover, it has a 11 year old community that simplifies development tasks like state management, routing, and testing.
Cost-effective!
Acting Right Is Important For Desired Results
To develop a modern app for web, (1) Optimize loading times, (2) Support offline experiences, (3) Simplify steps for users, (4) Create a Web App Manifest, (5) Use responsive images and media, (6) Deliver your application from Content Delivery Network, (7) Use CSP (Content Security Policies);
You get the smooth, responsive experience of an app, like real-time notifications and seamless navigation, without ever needing to download them from the app store, essentially acting like fully-fledged apps right within your browser window. To develop exquisite progressive web apps, start by (1) Building a minimalist app shell, (2) Implementing a service worker, (3) Adding a home screen icon for each platform, (4) Keeping navigation simple and fast, (5) Optimizing for both desktop and mobile devices, (6) Ensuring smooth scrolling and animation, (7) Offering share options.
Intuitive navigation!
Using Other Frameworks, but React
While other frameworks can also be used to build Progressive Web Apps, React is often preferred due to its strong component-based architecture, excellent performance, large community support, and features that align well with the requirements of a PWA, including efficient rendering, server-side rendering for SEO, and the ability to easily implement offline capabilities through service workers; React’s component-based approach allows for modular development, making it easier to manage complex PWA features and maintain code cleanliness. Its virtual DOM optimization significantly improves performance, facilitating smooth user experience on PWAs, while connections are slow.
Significantly improved mobile conversion rate!
The vast React community provides ample support, libraries, and tools; React’s ability to render on the server is vital for optimization for search engine visibility (discoverability), ensuring search engines can properly index your PWA content. React seamlessly integrates with service workers, enabling offline functionality and caching mechanisms essential for PWAs. Also try Angular, Vue.js, Ionic for full PWA functionality.
Compatible across devices!
Take Away Counter
PWA’s were named by someone in Google Chrome in 2015. Google pushed the concept backed by web, initially limited to major browsers like Firefox, Microsoft Edge and Safari – functional across multiple operating systems. Around that time Reactjs development services were used. It became suitable due to its component based architecture, and many more features discussed above. Many other frameworks are also being used, but React was open source and free to use.
