{"id":20082,"date":"2020-01-28T15:16:07","date_gmt":"2020-01-28T15:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/glosario-digital\/progressive-web-application-pwa"},"modified":"2026-09-15T16:53:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T16:53:57","slug":"progressive-web-application-pwa","status":"publish","type":"encyclopedia","link":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/progressive-web-application-pwa","title":{"rendered":"Progressive Web Application (PWA)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"boxpad alignright wp-image-12415 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GLOSARIO-A.jpg\" alt=\"Progressive Web Application (PWA)\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" style=\"margin-top:0;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GLOSARIO-A.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GLOSARIO-A-150x150.jpg 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><strong>Definition:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A <strong>progressive web application<\/strong>, or <strong>PWA<\/strong> for <em>Progressive Web App<\/em>, is an application built with web technologies that can incorporate capabilities associated with installed applications. It runs through a browser, is distributed by means of a URL, and may offer installation, offline operation, notifications, or other integrations when the browser and operating system support them.<\/p>\n<p>A PWA is not a format owned by Google or a category defined by a single technology. The term was popularised in 2015 to describe web applications that adopt progressive enhancement: the basic experience should continue to work, while additional capabilities are activated according to the available environment.<\/p>\n<p>It is also not simply a website with a mobile design. It combines a functional web application with metadata, resources, and browser mechanisms that allow it to be presented and run in a more integrated way on the device.<\/p>\n\n<h2>Components of a PWA<\/h2>\n<p>The exact composition depends on the application and the browser&#8217;s criteria. <strong>These six elements are common in a PWA:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Web application:<\/strong> HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and server services provide the interface and logic accessible from a URL.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secure connection:<\/strong> the application is served over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/https\">HTTPS<\/a>, apart from local development exceptions, to protect communication and enable sensitive APIs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Web app manifest:<\/strong> a JSON file declares data such as the name, icons, start URL, colours, and display mode used when it is installed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Service worker:<\/strong> a process separate from the page can intercept requests, manage caches, and enable tasks such as offline availability. It is common, although it does not by itself constitute a PWA and is not an identical requirement in every browser.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Adaptive design:<\/strong> the interface commonly uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/responsive\">responsive design<\/a> to adapt to different sizes and forms of interaction.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Progressive enhancement:<\/strong> unsupported features should degrade in a controlled way so that essential functionality remains accessible.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A manifest does not automatically turn every site into a complete PWA. Browsers apply their own criteria when displaying an installation option and may change how those criteria are evaluated. <a href=\"https:\/\/developer.mozilla.org\/en-US\/docs\/Web\/Progressive_web_apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">MDN&#8217;s PWA documentation<\/a> brings together the main standards and guides for the web environment.<\/p>\n<h2>How a Progressive Web Application Works<\/h2>\n<p>The first visit works as it does on any website or web <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/app\">app<\/a>. The browser downloads the required resources and, if a service worker is present, may register it to control later requests within its scope. The strategy defined by the application determines which resources are requested from the network, which are retained in a cache, and what response is provided when the connection fails.<\/p>\n<p>Its most characteristic capabilities can be grouped into these six functions:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><strong>Access by URL:<\/strong> it can be opened from a link without first passing through an application store.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Installation:<\/strong> in compatible environments, it can be added to the home screen, application menu, or another operating-system surface.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Independent execution:<\/strong> the manifest can request a window without the browser&#8217;s usual interface, although the application continues to use the device&#8217;s web engine.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Caching and offline use:<\/strong> a service worker can provide stored resources or an alternative experience, but the offline scope depends on what has been programmed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Device integration:<\/strong> some PWAs can use the camera, location, files, content sharing, or other APIs, with varying permissions and compatibility.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Re-engagement:<\/strong> capabilities such as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/digital-glossary\/push-notification\">push notification<\/a> or background task depend on the platform, consent, and system restrictions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>Updating combines resources served from the web with the life cycle of the service worker and its caches. A new version may therefore not immediately replace every file being used by an instance opened earlier. The application must manage versions, activation, and stored data to avoid inconsistent combinations.<\/p>\n<h2>PWA, Website, and Native Application<\/h2>\n<p>The three categories may share an interface, services, and objectives, but they are not equivalent. <strong>These five differences help distinguish them:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Distribution:<\/strong> a website and a PWA are published on the web; a PWA may also be installed, while a native application is generally distributed as a package for a particular platform.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Execution:<\/strong> a PWA uses web technologies and engines; a native application uses system-specific APIs and components, although hybrid solutions also exist.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Capabilities:<\/strong> a PWA&#8217;s access to the device depends on the browser and operating system; a native application generally has broader integration, which is also subject to permissions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Updates:<\/strong> web content can be renewed from the server, while parts of a PWA may remain temporarily cached; a native application follows the update mechanism of its distribution channel.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Discovery:<\/strong> a PWA retains URLs that can be linked and crawled. Installation or inclusion in an application store does not replace the accessibility or indexability of those URLs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The same organisation may offer a website, a PWA, and native applications connected to the same services. The choice depends on the required functions, the environments to cover, distribution, maintenance, and acceptable limitations.<\/p>\n<h2>Advantages and Limitations of PWAs<\/h2>\n<p>Using a web code base may facilitate access from several systems and avoid requiring installation for the first interaction. It also enables links to be shared and some updates to be deployed from the server. <strong>These possibilities do not guarantee lower costs, higher speed, or an equivalent experience on every device.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Evaluation should consider at least these five limitations:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Compatibility:<\/strong> installation, notifications, background tasks, and device APIs vary between browsers and systems.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Connectivity:<\/strong> a PWA only works offline for resources and operations specifically prepared for that purpose; remote data may still be required.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Storage and caching:<\/strong> quotas, automatic deletion of data, and an incorrect strategy can produce outdated content or failures.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Permissions and privacy:<\/strong> sensitive functions require a clear purpose, consent where appropriate, and suitable handling of data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Measurement and quality:<\/strong> installation, recurring use, errors, and performance need separate metrics and testing on real devices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A PWA may be crawled as web content if its pages are accessible, renderable, and linkable. <strong>Being a PWA does not automatically improve SEO<\/strong>, just as being installable does not demonstrate use, retention, or satisfaction. Its value depends on the added capabilities addressing specific needs and working reliably in the intended environments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What a PWA is, its components, how it works, differences from websites and native apps, and limits involving installation, compatibility, caching, and privacy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":79699,"template":"","encyclopedia-tag":[1401,1277],"class_list":["post-20082","encyclopedia","type-encyclopedia","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","encyclopedia-tag-app-marketing","encyclopedia-tag-web-components"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia\/20082","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/encyclopedia"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/79699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20082"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"encyclopedia-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.arimetrics.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/encyclopedia-tag?post=20082"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}