Progressive web apps (PWAs) have shaped a new era in the development of mobile apps. It is a type of web application used for the development of mobile apps by leveraging modern web technologies to deliver an app-like experience to users. PWAs are compatible with any device, and they deliver an optimal user experience by providing various features associated with native mobile apps. From our experience as a mobile app development company in Kolkata, we find PWAs to be more useful compared to their conventional counterparts. In this blog, we are going to explore several aspects of PWAs in the approach to the development of a mobile app.
Why choose PWAs over a traditional mobile app?
As a mobile app development company in Kolkata, we have seen many businesses develop their websites and mobile applications side by side to cater to the needs of both mobile and web users. However, with the rise of PWAs, one does not need to develop both websites and mobile apps, as PWAs are capable of catering to the needs of mobile users without a mobile app and at the same time providing all the features. Check out some of the benefits of PWAs over traditional mobile apps.
Cross-platform compatibility
PWAs are compatible across various platforms and operating systems, which eliminates the need for developing separate mobile apps for mobile users. PWAs do not compromise with user experience; users will have the same experience across all devices, such as a desktop, tablet, or smartphone.
PWAs are accessible without installation.
Traditional mobile apps need to be installed on a smartphone, which is not the case for a PWA. PWA can be accessed with the help of a web browser, which simplifies the onboarding process and, at the same time, reduces complexity, making it a more convenient option for users.
SEO friendly
Most traditional mobile apps, after development, fail to fulfil their goals or purposes. This is because the marketing of traditional mobile apps is a lot different than that of a website. Mobile apps do not usually rank in the search engine results pages (SERPs), whereas a website does, and so does a PWA. Thus, one does not need to put extra effort into the marketing of PWA, as it can be indexed and ranked in the SERPs. PWAs’ enhanced online visibility attracts a lot of organic traffic, resulting in potential user acquisition.
Offline functionality
You might think that traditional mobile apps are accessible offline, whereas browsers do not work without the internet, so PWAs might not be accessible offline. However this is not the case; it can cache content, allowing users to access certain features when they are offline.
Push notifications
Another important feature of PWAs, which many users might think is only available for traditional mobile apps, is push notifications. With the help of modern technology, PWAs can also push notifications that can provide timely updates, promotions, or any other important information. This direct communication helps users stay connected with the app, overall creating a more dynamic relationship.
Tools and Technologies for Progress Web Apps
The development of PWAs needs a range of tools and technology for delivering a seamless user experience and usable features.
We, being a mobile app development company in Kolkata, use React, Angular, and Vue.js for the front-end development of PWA. It provides the foundation for building dynamic interfaces, and Workbox, which is a service management tool, is useful for leveraging offline functionality.
Lighthouse is useful to analyse performance and other various aspects of PWAs, and for optimising code bundling, Webpack is very useful.
Jest and Cypress are great test frameworks for ensuring the reliability of PWAs, and for extending support to older browsers, PWACompat is useful.
For automated testing and deployment processes, continuous integration platforms like Travis CL and CircleCl are useful, and for content handling, a CMS like Contentful is helpful.
Esspesoft is the best mobile app development company in Kolkata, focused on providing the best mobile app development services that can cater to your specific business needs. We do custom mobile app development, and we are capable of developing highly efficient and functional PWAs. Our team is dedicated to delivering the best quality services, and you can expect full transparency in communication, reports, progress, audits, support, and guidance. On our website, we have a full portfolio of our works. Check out our website and contact us for more information.