WHY DO WE NEED PROGRESSIVE WEB APPS?

Technology is changing how we all live, but it needs to change how we work. The technology aims to improve the lives of people around the world, which is why software development has evolved from websites/portals to mobile apps. The next step towards development is PWAs.

Let us understand what is Progressive Web App (PWA) and then we will move on to understand – How to convert a website to Progressive Web App!

PWAs are application software that is distributed through the web. What makes them unique is the way they offer apps while making use of modern web capabilities, providing the convenience of an app-like experience.

Essentially, a progressive web app first focuses on the main web page and then progressively adds layers of presentation and features depending on the internet connection capabilities and browser of the user. 

Why do we need Progressive Web Apps?

Like any other new technology, the whole point and concept of Progressive Web Apps are to facilitate people/users by combining the benefits of websites and mobile apps while eliminating the cons. This is the main reason that people are looking to convert their websites into progressive web apps.

Progressive web apps are broadly classified as:

Reliable – PWAs load quickly. They never show “No Internet Connection” even with poor internet connectivity with the help of Service Workers Caching.

Fast – PWAs are quick and responsive. They respond rapidly to user interactions with dazzling animations.

Engaging – These web-based apps feel like a natural app when used on a device and facilitate an immersive experience for their users.

According to a study conducted by Google, brands using PWAs saw a nearly 134% increase in page views and a nearly 42% drop in bounce rate compared to similar mobile websites.

Benefits of PWAs:

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) witnessed higher engagement and conversion rates than normal websites. 

PWAs are completely independent, reliable, engaging, and quick platforms.

PWAs can be accessed online too. 

They are responsive and can be accessed well to all devices like Desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobiles.

PWAs facilitate automatic updates, faster performance, and have an easy setup. Progressive Web applications get installed immediately on the user’s screen. They do not need app stores.

How to convert a website to a Progressive Web APP? 

Before going into the steps to convert a website into a progressive web app, it is necessary to consider and list down the tasks that we need to add.

The main objective should be to plagiarize access to basic content and functionalities for all users. Then, here are the steps required to convert the website into a progressive web app successfully.

SHIFTING TO HTTPS

The first and preeminent step to converting a website into a progressive web app is to move from HTTP to HTTPS. Why?

Shifting to HTTPS is essential for service personnel, crucially for converting the website into a progressive web app. The service personnel only work on secure connections.

So, to convert a website to a progressive web app, it is essential to add TLS( Transport Layer Security) and switch from HTTP to HTTPS. How? 

To switch to HTTPS, it is imperative to the avail SSL certificate. Make sure to take a backup of all the data. After that update all internal links to HTTPS. 

ADD SERVICE WORKERS

One of the main functions of PWAs is their ability to work offline. It is used with the use of service workers, which makes it mandatory for websites to convert into progressive web apps. 

There are 3 important steps to adding service workers to include activation, installation, and registration.

Activation – Activation is required when all pages of the PWA are closed to prevent conflicts between previous and updated versions.

Installation – Installation is applicable when an original service worker is not easily installed in the browser or if the service worker is easily installed and requires an update.

Registration – Registration is the process of revealing the location of a service worker to the browser for 

Installation.

Other benefits to add service workers are real-time updates, higher speed, low storage, and enhanced performance to progressive web apps. 

CREATE JSON FILE – PWA MANIFEST

What is a JSON file? It is an essential web application manifest that empowers web app developers with a centralized place so that they can put the metadata for the application.

Metadata mainly includes the application name, links to images and icons, app configuration data, default orientation, app launch URL, theme color, display, and description options.

The web app manifest (JSON file) stores and provides all the necessary information to tell the browser to display the application. It needs to be added to the application HTML template.

TESTING THE PWA

No process is complete without testing. Now that you have successfully migrated to HTTPS, added service personnel and prepared a web application manifest to convert your website into a progressive web app, it is time to start implementing some checks and tests to ensure that it is possible that the conversion of your website to a web app is smooth and successful.

Make sure the service worker is registered in the developer tools. Remember that if Service Worker is well installed for the current page open, it must be listed in the Applications panel under the Service Worker tab.

Every time a new page is loaded, updated services are immediately and automatically activated. 

WRAPPING UP

Times have changed and technology has taken a step forward. Progressive web apps  are the future of software development across the globe and turning a website into a progressive web app is a great move.

The best part is that if you have a website and want to convert the website into a progressive web app, you can do it easily.

Make sure to consider making the most of all the tips mentioned in this blog to build your own progressive web application.

If you need our help in creating a Progressive Web App or you just need to convert the website to the progressive web app, Contact Us!

 Web Bull India is one of the top web app development companies in India having highly skilled web app developers with the right skills and experience. We provide high-quality and updated products to our customers.

If you want to convert a website to a progressive web app or need to build a progressive web app, contact us.