The term Progressive Web App (PWA) is used to describe web apps that make use of modern browser features to deliver rich, app-like experiences. Typically, a PWA will exhibit some or all of the following characteristics:
- Progressive: Works on all devices, with progressively enhanced functionality
- Responsive: Has a flexible layout that fits any form factor
- Connectivity-independent: Will function under poor network conditions, and even offline
- App-like: Feels like an app, with an app shell, and fetches new content mostly without full page refreshes
- Discoverable: Identifiable as an app while also being indexable by search engines on the web
- Installable: Can be added to the home screen of a device
The reason PWAs have gained prominence now is because the web platform has grown sufficiently mature to deliver such experiences. HTML5 has become advanced enough to support features such as push notifications, geolocation, and offline experiences. These are all features that previously...