Progressive Web Apps have been one of the most talked-about forms of development in recent years. A lot of people are of the opinion that they are reliable and have enough capabilities to be used by everyone and are the future of Web Applications. However, some think that there are better alternatives to PWAs and in this article, we will delve into the hows and whys of the debate.
Let us first start with defining what a PWA is. It is basically a website that is dependent on programming languages and has app-like features. The features of a PWA can include push notifications, the ability to have a full-screen experience, animations that are as fast as 60 frames per second, and much more. There are some browsers that support PWAs as well by crawling and actively searching for them to list on their app stores.
PWAs function in a straightforward manner. If you access a PWA through any supported browser, you will be asked if you want to install the web app on your home screen. This gives you the option to install the website to your device and allow it to be updated consistently with the help of service workers in the background.
Why is it called a ‘Progressive’ Web App, you may wonder. The simple answer to this question is that these websites are functional even if the browser that you are accessing them from is outdated. Of course, not all of the enhancements that come with a PWA will be available, however, you can work with its limited functionalities.
Another form of web development is Responsive Web Design. This refers to websites that can be accessed by any device without any limitations. The Responsive Web Design or RWD in short, has been around for ages. In fact the first documented responsive website launched by Audi was made using this framework.
RWD and PWAs are not separate forms of web design. In fact, most PWAs utilize features of RWD given its popularity with the developers and the users. However, relying on PWAs has some drawbacks. You need to consider the pros and cons of both before making a decision.
Speed Issues
We all know how annoying it is to have a slow website. Not only does it hurt the user experience but it also turns them away. When websites want to make money, they include ads that happen to increase the processing speed of your page. To solve speed issues, the ad formats included on the website should be less obtrusive and the images should be compressed so that your web app loads quickly
Unsatisfactory UX
One major issue that comes with RWD is the user experience not being optimal. The issue is not inherent with RWD, however, it is usually a design issue which comes with this framework.
Inability to Smoothly Render Web Applications
To be stuck with a website that pauses while being rendered is not a pleasant experience. This means that when you are scrolling down a website, the content may not load immediately and you may have to tap a couple of times for it to start functioning smoothly. This happens when there are multiple tracking devices on your website or the JavaScript coded on the website is inefficient.
Whether you are planning to utilize PWA or RWD for your website, it helps to know what features you are looking for. If you want your users to be able to access the website offline and experience full-screen functionality, PWA is what you should opt for. But if you want the maximum number of users to be able to access your website and not compromise on the speed, RWD is your best bet. Visit this site for more information.
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