What Are Progressive Web Apps?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is simply a mobile app delivered through the web. Like a native mobile app that you can download from app stores, they use an app shell that allows for the same gestures and navigation you would find on a native app. Essentially, they deliver the experience of a mobile app through a web browser.
What Defines a Progressive Web App?
Google has defined a clear set of characteristics of what qualifies as a Progressive Web App, including:
- Be usable and responsive to any device regardless of the browser
- Be available for discovery by search engines
- Be linkable to indicate current state and allow users to bookmark and share like any other web URL
- Carry features and functionality of a native app
- Function in areas of poor internet connectivity, with new content made available when full connection returns
- Have the potential for repeated usability through push notifications
- Be made available as a bookmark on a user’s device
- Be safe and secure with SSL encryption (HTTPS)
Twitter is taking advantage of PWA technology for its Twitter Lite platform. This became the default mobile web experience in April 2017 for anyone logging onto Twitter.
When compared to the native mobile app, the Twitter Lite PWA is only 600 KB whereas the native Android app requires about 25 MB for download and the native iOS app is about 215 MB in size.
If you visit Instagram on your mobile browser now, you’ll be accessing it via a PWA. Previously, you’d have struggled with a lack of functionality, only really being able to browse your timeline or profile.
Now, the PWA looks just like the traditional app and gives you some extra functionality as well. You can upload pictures as you normally would, but it doesn’t give you everything.Uber
When you think of Uber, you tend to think about technology disruption and sure enough, they’ve also been prompt on the PWA uptake. Uber’s PWA, m.uber, allows you to hail a ride without downloading and installing the traditional Uber mobile app.
It’s absolutely tiny, with the core service only taking up 50kb which means it loads quicker even on the poorest of internet connections.
The PWA technology Uber has used means it can load in as little as two seconds which will do great miracles for their search engine rankings as Google’s algorithms love fast-loading websites.
As a result, they weren’t persuading any users to engage with their content. Their PWA gives them much faster loading times and the ability for users to add it straight to their home page without any download or install.