Section: IT & Technology · Web DevelopmentDifficulty: Medium

Progressive Web App

USUK

A web application that provides native app-like experiences using modern browser capabilities.

Also: PWA

Definition

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web application that leverages modern browser APIs to deliver app-like user experiences including offline functionality (via service workers and cache), push notifications, home screen installation, and fast load times. PWAs are built with standard web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) and progressively enhance features based on browser capabilities. They eliminate app store distribution friction while providing near-native performance and engagement. Web App Manifests define PWA metadata for installation.

Example

“A retail PWA installs on users' home screens, loads product catalogs offline from a cached version, sends push notifications for order updates, and achieves 40% higher conversion rates than the previous mobile website.”

Synonyms

  • installable web app
  • offline web app
  • native-like web app

Antonyms / Opposites

  • native app
  • traditional website

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Related Terms

  • pwa
  • spa
  • server-side-rendering
  • static-site-generation

Dictionary Entry

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