PWAs, the discreet revolution of the web
Progressive Web Apps, or PWAs, have revolutionized the web development world by combining the best of websites and mobile applications. They bring speed, reliability, and economic simplicity. Yet, they remain underutilized. Let's explore together why they deserve your attention.
Today, companies like Twitter, Pinterest, and Starbucks successfully use PWAs.
Ready to take the leap into Progressive Web Apps? 🚀
What is a Progressive Web App (PWA)?
A PWA is a web application that provides a user experience similar to a native mobile app while remaining directly accessible via the browser. It relies on three pillars:- Reliability: Works even offline or with an unstable network.
- Speed: Content instantly available thanks to caching.
- Engagement: Push notifications, icon on the home screen, immersive experience.
Origins and evolution of PWAs
Launched in 2015 by Google, PWA technology addressed the slowness of traditional websites and the growing need for mobile applications accessible without excessive costs. The emergence of service workers (background scripts) was decisive, allowing advanced cache management and offline mode.Today, companies like Twitter, Pinterest, and Starbucks successfully use PWAs.
Why adopt a PWA?
Exceptional performance
Companies regularly see significant gains:- Orange Poland: +52% conversions, -12% bounce rate.
- Mainline Menswear: +55% conversions and +243% revenue per session.
Substantial savings compared to native apps
Developing a PWA costs on average 3 to 4 times less than a native application. The savings achieved are considerable in the long term.Universal accessibility
One application accessible on all modern devices and browsers, with the possibility of publishing it on certain stores like Google Play.Current challenges of PWAs
Although promising, PWAs still need to overcome some technical limitations, including:- iOS compatibility: Push notifications have only been available since iOS 16.4, and some APIs remain limited by Apple.
- Limited discoverability: Not yet fully integrated into traditional stores like Apple's App Store.
- Native APIs: Some advanced features (Bluetooth, specific sensors) remain difficult to implement on certain browsers.
What future for PWAs?
The future of PWAs is very promising:- Browsers are expanding their APIs through the Fugu project, gradually reducing the gap with native apps.
- Growing adoption by major companies and users due to their ease of access and improved performance.
PWAs in practice: my feedback
I have personally integrated PWAs into several projects:- Increased performance: near-instant loading and smooth navigation.
- Cost reduction: one application to cover web and mobile, less expensive to maintain.
- Notable increase in conversions: successful transformation of a traditional e-commerce site into a PWA.
Small quiz on PWAs 🎯
Test your knowledge about PWAs with this small interactive quiz:
What technical element is at the heart of PWAs to manage caching and offline experience?
Which company saw +55% conversions after adopting a PWA?
Which mobile platform still limits certain features of PWAs?
What major economic advantage do PWAs offer to companies?
What is the name of the project aimed at integrating native APIs into browsers to improve PWAs?
Ready to take the leap into Progressive Web Apps? 🚀
