PWAs are the evolution of web technologies and allow you to create applications that can run on any device and platform, be it computers, smartphones, or tablets.
PWAs offer a convenient and flexible way to use apps, providing broad accessibility, reliability, and a great user experience across devices. If you want to learn about the difference between a progressive web app and a responsive web app, as well as how PWAs can reduce the development budget, then this article is for you.
What is a PWA?
A Progressive Web Application (PWA) is an application that combines the power of a website and an application designed to be used across multiple platforms and devices. PWAs are developed using web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript and can be opened by a web browser without the need for installation from the App Store or Google Play.
With PWAs, the user can interact with the business as if using a mobile application:
- View catalogs of goods/services
- Place orders
- Sign up for services/schedule appointments
- Receive advice from the support service
- Receive push notifications and more
What’s the difference between Progressive And Responsive Web Applications?
Progressive web applications and responsive web applications are two different web development concepts, both focused on providing a better user experience, but with some differences.
PWAs are designed with progressive enhancements in mind and support for the gradual evolution of functionality. They may gradually adapt to the capabilities of the user’s device and browser, providing additional features and functionality where available. This means that PWAs can work on any device and browser, as well as provide access to certain device features such as notifications, access to the camera, or geolocation.
Responsive web applications refer to the design and development of web applications that can adapt to different screen sizes and device resolutions. They are optimized to run on a variety of devices, from mobile phones to desktops, and automatically change their layout and layout based on screen size.
Thus, users get an optimal visual presentation and convenient use of the application, regardless of the device on which they open it.
In short, PWAs focus on functionality and features that can gradually evolve and adapt to devices and browsers, while RWAs focus on adapting design and layout to provide an optimal display on different screens.
In what areas are PWAs popular?
PWAs are used in various fields and areas. For example, applications are widely used in online stores and e-commerce platforms. They offer a user-friendly interface for customers, fast page loading, the ability to work offline, and send notifications about discounts or new offers.
PWAs allow media companies, news outlets, streaming services, and other entertainment platforms to deliver their content through web applications. PWAs provide fast loading of videos, music, images, and other media files, as well as the ability to save content for offline viewing.
Financial institutions use PWAs to provide online banking, payment systems, investment platforms, and other financial services. PWAs provide security, fast loading, offline functionality, and financial transaction notifications.
Tourism and travel web applications can use PWAs to provide information about hotel reservations, purchase airline tickets, search for tours and excursions, and provide interactive maps and navigation.
PWAs can be used for educational purposes to provide learning materials, interactive assignments, online courses, and distance learning platforms. They provide access to educational resources at any time and place.
Pros of using PWAs
The most obvious advantage for businesses today is that PWA applications do not need to be uploaded to marketplaces, but there are a number of other advantages:
- Work offline without an internet connection. The user does not need to be online, he can perform all actions without connecting to the network. Changed or newly created data will enter the system when the Internet connection is stable.
- Development speed. The PWA application is developed along with the frontend, so the additional costs are minimal. PWA is often used in MVP projects, where the development of the application has not yet been approached, but it is necessary to study user behavior.
- Lack of constant updates. Unlike a mobile application, PWA does not need to be updated through marketplaces; when connected to the Internet, it will automatically update to the desired version without user intervention.
- They take up a small amount of memory. Progressive apps do not take up much space on the user’s device.
- Adaptability to any architecture. It doesn’t matter at all whether you have a monolithic or microservice architecture on the project.
- Cross-platform. The user can use PWA both in the mobile version and on the desktop.
Does using PWAs affect the Development budget?
PWAs offer several benefits that can help reduce your development budget compared to developing separate mobile apps for different platforms. Here are some ways PWAs can help keep costs down:
1 – Single code – PWAs allow you to create one major version of an app that can run across multiple platforms and devices. This means that developers can share the same codebase and reuse app components and functionality across platforms instead of developing separate apps for iOS, Android, Windows, and other operating systems.
2 – Simplified updates – PWAs are updated automatically, allowing developers to implement changes and bug fixes without having to release new versions or updates on every device. This reduces the cost of deploying updates and enables faster distribution of new features.
3 – Ease of development – PWA development is based on web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which are widely used and familiar to many developers. This simplifies the development process and allows you to use existing skills and tools.
4 – Easy deployment – PWAs do not require installation through official app stores. They can be deployed and used directly through the browser, eliminating the need for additional steps related to deployment and validation in the app stores.
5 – Reduce storage requirements – PWAs can use caching and storing data locally, which allows you to work offline and reduces the dependence on a permanent connection to the network. This can reduce server storage and transmission costs, especially in the case of large amounts of data or limited Internet access.
Conclusion
Using a PWA can reduce app development and maintenance costs because it allows you to share a common code base, simplifies the update process, and expands audience reach without the need to develop and maintain separate versions of the app for different platforms.
You can learn more about the difference between developing PWAs and RWAs from Gearheart professionals. The company develops high-quality software products taking into account the requirements of the client and the needs of users.