Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) combine the properties of a website — universal accessibility, no mandatory installation, organic search — with certain capabilities typically reserved for native applications.
What distinguishes a PWA
A PWA is distinguished by three fundamental technical characteristics: the use of a Service Worker to manage caching and enable offline functionality, a manifest file that defines installation behaviour, and delivery via HTTPS.
On this basis, a PWA can offer push notifications, offline access to certain data, installation on a mobile home screen, and a full-screen experience similar to a native app.
Relevant use cases
PWAs are particularly suited to projects that need a polished mobile experience without the constraints and costs of native development for both iOS and Android. They are well adapted to frequently consulted content tools and service applications accessible on both mobile and desktop browsers.
They are less suited to applications requiring deep access to device hardware features — camera, Bluetooth, low-frequency communications — where native apps remain superior.
The current ecosystem
Browser support for PWA features has improved considerably, including on iOS. This evolution makes PWAs more viable than a few years ago for a wider variety of projects.