What is a PWA?
A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a type of web application that delivers a native-like experience to users. It is designed to work on any device, including smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers, and can be accessed through a web browser like any other website.
PWAs are designed to be fast, reliable, and engaging, with features such as offline functionality, push notifications, and the ability to add the app to the home screen of a device. Just like ordinary websites, they are built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and can be developed using the same tools and frameworks.
One of the main benefits of PWAs is that they can be accessed from any device with a web browser, without the need to download and install a native app from an app store. This makes them easier to discover and use, and allows developers to reach a wider audience. In addition, because they are built with web technologies, PWAs can be easily updated and maintained, which makes them a convenient and cost-effective option for businesses.
How does it compare with an SPA?
A Single-Page Application (SPA) is a type of web application that operates as a single page and dynamically updates the page with new data, without the need to refresh the page. SPAs have been the standard now for the last 10 years for feature-rich web app development. They are designed to provide a smooth and responsive user experience, with fast and seamless navigation between different sections of the app. They are built using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and typically use a front-end framework such as Angular, React, or Vue.js to manage the application's state and logic.
Let us compare some key differences between PWAs and SPAs:
Native-like experience: PWAs are designed to deliver a native-like experience to users, with features such as offline functionality, push notifications, and the ability to add the app to the home screen of a device. SPAs do not have these features and do not offer the same level of integration with the device's operating system.
Page refresh: SPAs operate as a single page and dynamically update the page with new data, without the need to refresh the page. PWAs can also dynamically update content, but they are not required to do so and may refresh the page under certain circumstances.
Accessibility: PWAs can be accessed from any device with a web browser, without the need to download and install a native app from an app store. SPAs can also be accessed from any device with a web browser, but they may not offer the same level of performance and offline functionality as a PWA.
Development: Both PWAs and SPAs are built using web technologies. However, PWAs are designed to be fast, reliable, and engaging, and may require the use of additional technologies and frameworks to achieve these goals like service workers and a Manifest file. SPAs can be developed using a wider range of tools and frameworks, and may not have the same performance and reliability requirements as PWAs.
Best use cases for PWAs
At the end of the day, each project has different requirements so there is no simple rule, but one thing to remember is that a web app that provides a similar experience to that of a native app is possible when there is a need for cross-platform compatibility and a restricted budget: that's when a PWA is the most adequate. You should know that virtually every large app you know has been transformed into a PWA nowadays (Twitter, BMW, Starbucks and more).
Otherwise, for resource-intensive applications such as games, the native app path is to be preferred.