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  "description": "A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web application that uses modern browser capabilities to behave more like a native app: installable to the home screen, offline-capable, sending push notifications, and accessing hardware features through web APIs. PWAs deliver mobile-app-like experiences without app store distribution.\n\n\nCore technologies\n\n * Service Workers. Scripts that run in the background, intercept network requests, and enable offline access and push notifications.\n * Web App Manifest. A J",
  "path": "/engineering-glossary/pwa-progressive-web-app/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-12T19:16:09.000Z",
  "site": "https://sahilkapoor.com",
  "tags": [
    "iOS",
    "Android",
    "React Native",
    "Push Notifications"
  ],
  "textContent": "**A Progressive Web App (PWA)** is a web application that uses modern browser capabilities to behave more like a native app: installable to the home screen, offline-capable, sending push notifications, and accessing hardware features through web APIs. PWAs deliver mobile-app-like experiences without app store distribution.\n\n## Core technologies\n\n  * **Service Workers.** Scripts that run in the background, intercept network requests, and enable offline access and push notifications.\n  * **Web App Manifest.** A JSON file describing the app: name, icons, theme colour, start URL, display mode (standalone, fullscreen).\n  * **HTTPS.** Required for service workers and most modern web APIs.\n  * **Installability.** Browsers prompt installation when the manifest and service worker meet criteria; installed PWAs appear with their own icon.\n\n\n\n## What PWAs can do\n\n  * Work offline or in poor connectivity via service-worker caches\n  * Receive push notifications (limited on iOS until iOS 16.4+)\n  * Run in fullscreen / standalone, hiding browser chrome\n  * Access camera, microphone, geolocation, sensors via web APIs\n  * Sync data in the background when connectivity returns\n\n\n\n## Tradeoffs versus native\n\n  * **Pros.** Single codebase across web and mobile; no app store gatekeeping; instant updates; lower distribution cost.\n  * **Cons.** Limited access to platform APIs (especially on iOS); no presence in native app stores by default; lower visibility for discovery.\n\n\n\n🔗\n\n**Related Terms**\niOS, Android, React Native, Push Notifications.",
  "title": "PWA",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-13T19:14:24.069Z"
}