A website that functions and seems like a mobile app is known as a progressive web app (PWA). PWAs are created so that users can take advantage of native mobile device functionality without having to go to an app store, buy anything, or download anything locally. An alternative is to use a search engine query to find a PWA, which can then be quickly accessed using a browser.
PWAs do away with the requirement that e-commerce vendors create native apps for various mobile operating systems. PWA content is downloaded gradually, similar to YouTube videos, giving the user a better experience than on a conventional website with responsive design. In 2015, designer Frances Berriman and Google Chrome programmer Alex Russell developed the phrase "progressive web apps."
By delivering the majority of the advantages of native mobile apps to the mobile browser, PWAs aim to obfuscate the line between native mobile apps and the mobile web. PWAs operate in a secure, publicly accessible container using standards-based technologies. Similar to a mobile app from an app store, they can send online push alerts, work offline, and be accessed from the home screen.
To keep website deployment and upkeep as simple as possible, PWAs can also benefit from APIs and browser plugins. The usage of URIs to signify the current state is another feature PWAs have gained from conventional web pages. When a user bookmarks or shares the URL of the web app, this enables the web app to keep or reload its current state.
The UI of a progressive web app needs to be adjusted for the form factor and screen size of the device. It should also follow an application shell model and have a native appearance. A few page refreshes should be required by the PWA, and the app should function offline or in places with poor connectivity. Additionally, the app should be updated with fresh content. The software should be hosted via HTTPS to prevent man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attacks because network requests can be intercepted.
