PWAs – The history and examples

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Progressive web apps are the future of mobile app development. They offer a better user experience than traditional websites, and they can be used on devices that don’t have an installed application.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss the history and benefits of progressive web apps.

The history of PWAs

The first recorded mention of a “progressive web app” was in 2015, when Google engineer Alex Russell described them as “apps that take advantage of modern browser features and enhancements.” Progressive web apps are essentially websites that use modern technologies (such as Service Workers and AppCache) to provide a more seamless user experience than traditional websites. They can be used on devices that don’t have an installed application, and they offer many of the same benefits as native applications.

The history of progressive web apps (PWAs) can be traced back to 2015 when Google first announced its plans to make the web more app-like. Since then, PWAs have gained increasing popularity, with a number of major brands and platforms investing in them.

In 2017, Microsoft announced its own PWA platform, which it calls “Project Westminster”. This was followed by Apple’s announcement of support for PWAs in Safari 11.1.

PWAs are now supported by all major browsers, and there is a growing number of tools and services that make it easy to create and deploy PWAs.

There are a number of factors that have contributed to the popularity of PWAs. One is the fact that they offer a way to create an app-like experience without having to go through the traditional app store approval process. This means that PWAs can be deployed much faster and with less hassle than native apps.

Another factor is that PWAs are designed to work offline or in low-connectivity conditions. This is a major advantage for users in areas with poor or expensive network coverage.

Finally, PWAs are often less expensive to develop and deploy than native apps. This is because they can be built using web technologies that are already widely known and used and because there is no need to create separate versions for different platforms.

The popularity of PWAs is likely to continue to grow in the coming years as more brands and businesses invest in them. In the meantime, they offer a great way to create an app-like experience without the need for a traditional app store.

Examples of brands that use PWAs

1. Starbucks: The coffee giant’s PWA allows users to order and pay for drinks, view nearby stores, and access their loyalty accounts. The app also provides engaging content such as personalized offers and articles about coffee culture.
2. Tinder: The popular dating app created a PWA that looks and feels like the native app but uses less data and loads faster on slow internet connections. Tinder’s PWA also takes advantage of device features such as push notifications and camera access.
3. Uber: The ride-hailing app’s PWA allows users to request a car, track their driver’s progress, and pay for their ride – all without having to download an app. The PWA also works offline, so users can still hail a ride even if they have a bad internet connection.
4. Pinterest: The visual search engine’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
5. Twitter: The social media platform’s PWA looks and feels just like the native app but uses less data and loads faster on slow internet connections. The PWA also takes advantage of device features such as push notifications and camera access.
6. Lyft: The ride-sharing app’s PWA allows users to request a car, track their driver’s progress, and pay for their ride – all without having to download an app. The PWA also works offline, so users can still hail a ride even if they have a bad internet connection.
7. Aliexpress: The popular e-commerce site’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
8. Trivago: The hotel search engine’s PWA allows users to find and book hotels without having to download an app. The PWA also works offline, so users can still search for hotels even if they have a bad internet connection.
9. Flipkart: The Indian e-commerce site’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
10. MakeMyTrip: The popular travel site’s PWA allows users to search and book flights, hotels, and trains without having to download an app. The PWA also works offline, so users can still search for travel options even if they have a bad internet connection.
11. Myntra: The Indian fashion e-commerce site’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
12. Jabong: The Indian fashion e-commerce site’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
13. Snapdeal: The Indian e-commerce site’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
14. Shopclues: The Indian e-commerce site’s PWA includes features like infinite scroll, push notifications, and offline access – all of which make for a more engaging user experience.
15. Amazon: The global e-commerce giant’s PWA allows users to shop and buy products without having to download an app. The PWA also works offline, so users can still browse and buy products even if they have a bad internet connection.

Is Netflix a PWA?

Netflix is a very popular streaming service that offers its users a wide variety of TV shows, movies, and documentaries. It is available on multiple platforms, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and TVs. Netflix has been progressive in adopting new technologies, and it was one of the first companies to adopt HTML5 for its video streaming service.

Netflix has also been experimenting with Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). In 2017, they launched a PWA version of their website, which allowed users to stream content even when they were offline. The PWA version of Netflix also had some other notable features, such as being able to send push notifications to users and being responsive to different screen sizes.

However, it seems that Netflix has discontinued their PWA experiment. The PWA version of their website is no longer available, and it is not clear if they have any plans to resurrect it. It is possible that they found that the benefits of PWAs did not outweigh the costs or that the technology was not ready for prime time.

Even though Netflix is no longer using PWAs, they are still at the forefront of new technologies. They were one of the first companies to adopt 4K streaming, and they are also working on ways to improve their content delivery system. It is clear that they are always looking for ways to improve their service and give their users the best experience possible.

Business benefits of using PWAs for eCommerce

1. Increased engagement and conversions
2. Improved performance and loading times
3. Enhanced user experience
4. Greater reach and discoverability
5. Offline functionality and push notifications
6. Cost-effectiveness and easier maintenance
7. Increased security
8. Improved SEO rankings
9. Greater flexibility and scalability

In a nutshell

Progressive web apps are becoming increasingly popular because they’re fast, reliable, and secure. They’re also great for SEO because they can be indexed by search engines like Googlebot. In addition, progressive web apps can be added to home screen icons on Android devices or pinned to the dock on macOS devices. This allows users to access your app quickly and easily without having to open a browser first. Click here to learn more about PWAs in composable eCommerce.