Progressive Web Apps (PWA) are applications built using web technologies and seek to offer a user experience comparable to that of native apps, regardless of the platform. PWAs can run on multiple platforms and devices while providing identical functionality, thereby combining the best of web and mobile app functionalities.

A Brief History of PWAs

_Web applications, or web apps, gained prominence with the introduction of the iPhone in 2007. Steve Jobs initially encouraged developers to create applications using standard web technologies to enhance the iPhone's capabilities. While this approach didn't immediately take off, the concept of web apps persisted.

In 2015, Google significantly advanced the idea, introducing Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). This evolution built upon Apple's original concept, incorporating modern web technologies and robust support. Other major tech companies, including Mozilla and Microsoft, also embraced and contributed to the development of web apps, furthering their capabilities and adoption across various platforms.

Evolution Towards PWAs

After the introduction of web apps by Steve Jobs in 2007, the concept was revisited in 2010 and began to gain traction. Significant setbacks, such as poor offline support and limited device access, led to lackluster adoption. In 2013, Mozilla introduced Firefox OS, which had a similar concept to PWAs and was meant to provide an app-like experience through web technology. Sadly, the technology was not widely adopted. Nevertheless, it set a precedent for the development of PWA in the future, and it was later successfully taken up by Google in 2015.

Google introduced the term PWA during the Chrome development summit, and from there, it was adopted widely by various popular applications in the industry, such as e-commerce stores. PWAs have continued to gain popularity, especially with the introduction of new APIs such as WebAssembly and WebShare, which have enhanced the performance of PWAs. The evolution of PWAs has been outstanding and can be credited to better technology, standardization, and strategic partnerships within tech firms and other organizations. With this evolution, PWAs are now the linking factor between native and web applications.

Early Adopters of PWA

Along with the recognition and wide usage of mobile internet and Google's praises of PWAs, more web services gained interest in PWAs. They were mainly keen to experiment with how they work. Tech companies such as Twitter, Alibaba, and Forbes quickly adopted PWA technology and testified to better engagements, increased revenue, and more consumption. In 2016 and the following years, more companies came on board, we saw companies such as AliExpress and Flipkart seeking to transform their digital operations with PWAs. 2017 saw the introduction of Twitter Lite and it was the perfect example of a successful progressive web application. Twitter Lite enhanced the experience of mobile users by reducing data consumption while offering quick load times. Further, Twitter lite was designed to perform best with slow internet or older devices, making it a hit in almost all major emerging economies.

After the early adoption of PWAs by various industry-leading applications, there has been a significant shift towards PWAs, with most companies seeking to reap benefits such as engagements, improved performance, and lead generation. E-commerce stores have gradually gravitated towards PWAs, which have significantly improved their clients' sales experience. Companies that have adopted PWAs do not have to modify their mobile applications to suit the Android or iOS operating system; instead, they use PWA to deliver a similar app-like experience to every client. PWAs are cheaper to develop compared to native applications, while still offering safety and speed

Future Projections for PWAs

The Future is promising for PWAs thanks to the advancement of web technologies, broader adoption by both companies and users, as well as support from browsers. The PWA market is projected to reach $10.44 billion by 2027. These advancements will ensure PWAs remain reliable and provide a solution for fast browsing and suitable user experience across all platforms. Some of the future predictions for PWAs include.

• Adoption by more organizations since businesses are aware of the benefits of PWAs.
• Improved offline functionality will guarantee a seamless user experience, especially with unstable networks.
• Collaboration with Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) will be adopted to improve mobile browsing experience.
• PWAs for desktops and laptops will be introduced to broaden the richness of their influence and reach.
• Gaming features will be integrated with PWA to boost user engagement and enhance user retention.

Summing Up

Over the years, progressive web applications have transformed from basic technology to a major strategy in the mobile web sector. Unsurprisingly, PWAs have been widely adopted by major tech companies, as most want to enhance their user experience. The collaboration between the two industry-leading tech firms, Google and Microsoft, has brought more improvements and opened new platforms for PWAs. The improvements have allowed developers to make more advanced PWA features, bridging the gap between native and web applications. In the Future, we can expect a rise in innovations, which will further develop PWAs, driven by strategic partnerships.