What is a PWA? A website that behaves like an app
A PWA is a website that behaves like an app: it can be installed to the home screen, opened offline and send notifications. Two pieces make that work — a web app manifest describing name and icons, and a service worker running in the background to intercept requests. There is no store review, so releases are instant; in exchange, hardware access is more limited than in native apps.
- No store review; updates ship instantly
- Offline use and notifications are possible
- Hardware access is limited
- One address serves as both site and app
What is a PWA?
A PWA is a website that offers an app-like experience. A visitor opens the address, chooses "add to home screen", and from then on it launches with its own icon and no browser chrome. As MDN describes it, PWAs are built with web technology but aim for the experience of a platform app.
How it works
- Web app manifest: name, icons, start URL and display mode, published by W3C as a standard.
- Service worker: a background script between the page and the network that enables offline use and caching.
- HTTPS: service workers only run over a secure connection.
When is a PWA enough?
Catalogues, directories, information screens, booking, order tracking and internal dashboards are well served by a PWA: one codebase, instant updates, search visibility and a link you can share.
Limits and the iOS difference
Limits start where hardware begins: Bluetooth, continuous background location, advanced camera control and some sensors are restricted or missing. Notifications differ by platform too — on iOS, web push requires the site to be added to the home screen and became available with Safari 16.4. Where notifications are business-critical, native or Flutter is the safer choice.
PWA or mobile app?
| Need | Fit |
|---|---|
| Information, catalogue, booking | PWA |
| Field QR/location checks, constant notifications | Native / Flutter |
| Fast launch, small budget | PWA |
| Store presence, in-app payments | Native / Flutter |
The longer comparison lives in our native or Flutter article.
A PWA is the cheapest, fastest answer to "we need an app" — just not the answer to every version of that sentence.
Sources
- MDN Web Docs, Progressive web apps
- W3C, Web Application Manifest
- web.dev, Progressive Web Apps
Frequently asked questions
Can a PWA be published in a store?
It can be packaged for Google Play. Apple's rules are stricter: apps that only wrap a site are rejected.
Does a PWA work offline?
Pages cached by the service worker open offline; data operations sync when the connection returns.
Any SEO difference?
A PWA is a website, so it appears in search results normally — an advantage over native apps.
Can an existing site become a PWA?
Usually yes: add a manifest, icons and a service worker.
