Surely at some point you have heard about progressive websites, or their initials in English PWA (Progressive Web App). It is a way to optimize applications and the way you navigate in them on any of the operating systems that exist.
Before explaining the advantages of progressive web applications , let's quickly see what they are and why they are used. This way you will quickly understand the advantages.
What are PWAs?
They are actually web pages that have introduced improvements to mobile applications in terms of design and usability, so that they can be adapted to all operating systems . But why is this done? Normal applications, web or mobile, have a limited operation depending on the browser or operating system you have.
We use web applications through the browser; That is, we connect to them through it and an internet connection. We can access all the functions that the browser in question offers us, but we depend on it .
For its part, in order to access a mobile application we need a tablet or a smartphone to use it. First we will have to have installed it on our device by downloading it from the application platform we use. Here we have to take into account that the operating system is the one that will give us access to some functionalities or others because its design is very different if you have Android or iOS.
This is why custom enterprise software development such as progressive web applications were created, so that they can adapt to all devices . Keep in mind that creating two types of applications, one for Android and another for iOS is very expensive, and also having to adapt it to a browser, much more so.
Right now, there are many companies that have developed their applications as progressive. Some of them are Twitter, AliExpress, Telegram or Spotify among others. They have known how to take advantage of the advantages to get the most out of them. They work the same through a browser or in any of the operating systems on mobile phones.
Advantages of using progressive web applications
Economic savings when creating them
It is one of the reasons I mentioned above. When we create a native app in one of the operating systems that exist, Android or iOS, then we have to do the same in the other because they have totally different ways of working. This is very expensive in the long run because you have to design and develop two applications, with everything that entails.
You can develop fully customized PWAs adapted to all platforms at a lower cost .
Speed and space saving
If before we talked about economic savings when creating them, now it's time to talk about the time saved by those who use them. They are much faster than normal websites, improving performance and user experience. In addition, they consume much less data than traditional ones , something that is highly valued by their consumers.
In addition, PWAs take up much less space in the memory of our devices , so the storage capacity will not fill up as often.
One of the best advantages of progressive web applications: Responsive design
It is something very important when designing websites and applications: that it adapts to all types of devices and operating systems. Do not lose navigability and access to all parts of the application is simple. Software development solutions like PWAs have this advantage because they are generally supported by Service Worker , which allows the same design to be seen if the user is browsing in a browser that is not supported.
Being able to see the same thing in any of the possible options and not having to search for what you need is a great advantage that is offered with responsive design, and PWAs have this.
Works like a mobile app
One of the characteristics that smartphone apps have is that they are easy to use and very intuitive. This is what is intended with progressive web applications, that they are just as manageable wherever you use them , whether you do it from the app itself or from the browser.
In addition, all the information you use to obtain the information will be saved in the applications cache.
Icon on the main screen
How many times has it happened to you on your computer that you have to search for that website you need in the search engine? PWAs work just like apps, so you can add the icon to your home screen so you don't have to waste time searching . To give an example: if you are a Telegram user, you can have it on your desktop to access it whenever you need it without having to open the browser.
Offline mode
Another advantage of some applications: you can use them in offline mode if you are in a place with non-existent coverage. PWAs incorporate this as well, as the website cache is automatically saved in the browser once you have opened it once. This way we can see the preloaded content of the page without having a connection.
Browser Notifications
Once you have downloaded a progressive web application to your browser, you may receive a message asking for permission to send you push notifications. This means that they can send you messages and alerts from the website to inform you of news, promotions . It is a way to offer quick access to users.
Some of the main newspapers already use it to send news to people who access their new websites with the PWA implemented on them.
Goodbye to updates and downloads
Native apps, the ones we all knew, had to be downloaded from an app store or system that searched for them and downloaded them to our devices. In addition, they had to be updated from time to time so that they continued to work with the installed improvements.
Progressive web applications are shared through a URL, so you do not have to purchase them anywhere , and they adapt to any device without having to do specific development, and they are updated automatically, without us having to keep an eye on them. .
Greater security
PWAs, being websites, must always use HTTPS to keep all the data provided by the user secure. This security they offer is a plus over native applications, which did not always offer it. They also use a secure TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol.
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