Progressive web apps

what are they?

progressive web apps or PWA are websites that you can run as apps on your computer, phone and tablet.they look and work exactly like a normal app, but there’s nothing to install they run in their own browser like Window.crucially, they are should not dependent on an Internet connection so they work offline too.

what’s the benefit?

PWA is potentially safer than normal apps and programs because they don’t need to be installed on your device thereby eradicating the risk of accidentally downloading Malware. they also take up less storage space, because most of the app’s data is stored on a server rather than on your pc, Phone or Tablet.

you never need to manually update a PWA  this is done automatically by the app’s developer. And they always work the same way, regardless of the operating system or type of device you’re using.so you could use the same apps on your Android phone, Windows, Pc,iPad or any other device that supports them.

How do they work?

The idea behind web apps is not new. Apple’s iPhone used them extensively when it first launched. The “progressive” part refers to newer Web Technology they use to deliver a smooth, safe more app-like experience. the three main technologies involved are cache API, service workers (which caches data to allow the apps to work offline )And web app manifest (which stores other data about the app, such as its settings).

You launch it by clicking or tapping a shortcut on your home screen of PC desktop. It then runs in its own window and works as if it were installed on your device, with no delay, even if you have a weak internet connection (or if you’re offline).PWA can provide notifications and carry out other background tasks, just like standard apps currently do.

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What devices can I use them on?

You can already run PWAs on many current  Android devices try them by going to https:/ /PWA.rocks via chrome on Android phone or tablet and taping one of the PWAs featured there, such as offline Wikipedia Flipboard and the mouth-watering progressive  beer ( the ultimate guide to beer  all around the world )

Once the web page loads, tap the menu button (three dots) select “add to home screen”, then tap add in the message that pops up you should now find a shortcut to the PWA version of the site of your home screen.

step 1                                                       step 2                                                         step 3

what about on my computer?

Not yet but you shouldn’t have long to wait. Microsoft believes that “PWAs are the key to the web’s future”, announcing last month (www.snipca.com/27088) that you will soon be able to run them in Windows 10 available via the windows store.this may arrive as part of the spring creators update, due in a few weeks.

Apple is lagging a bit behind, though it recently added to it safari browser support for some of the web technologies required to run Pwas. many experts took this as a sign that the company is working on iPad and iPhone support too.