Glossary · web-development
PWA
Definition
A PWA (Progressive Web App) is a web application built with web technologies (HTML/CSS/JS) that delivers a native app experience. No App Store required — it's installable on the home screen, works offline, and sends push notifications. Development cost is 40-60% lower than native.
Detailed explanation
PWA was introduced by Google in 2015. Core technologies: Service Worker (offline cache + push), Web App Manifest (home screen + icon), HTTPS (mandatory). Starbucks, Twitter Lite, and Pinterest are successful PWA examples.
PWA vs Native: Native apps offer App Store distribution and better hardware access (Bluetooth, ARKit); 2 platforms = 2x cost. PWA is a single codebase, no App Store submission, SEO-indexable. Best fit: content-heavy apps, e-commerce, news, portals.
Limitations: iOS push notification restrictions (iOS 16.4+ added support), no deep hardware APIs like NFC/ARKit. In Turkey: installable via Play Store; iOS adds to home screen via 'Add to Home Screen'.
Use cases
→E-commerce mobile experience (App Store alternative)
→News / portal app
→B2B internal tool
→Field app needing offline support
→Proof of concept before MVP
Pros
- +Single codebase (web + mobile)
- +No App Store process/commission
- +SEO-indexable
- +Fast deployment (no store review wait)
Cons
- −iOS push notification restrictions
- −No deep hardware access (NFC, ARKit)
- −Some APIs missing in iOS Safari
- −Doesn't rank in App Store
Related terms
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