PWAs (Progressive Web Apps) revolutionize mobile experience by transforming classic websites into installable, fast, and offline-capable applications. Combining the best of web and native, PWAs offer a credible alternative to iOS/Android apps without going through App Store/Play Store.
🚀 Why Choose a PWA in 2025?
- 📱 Frictionless installation: Home screen icon, no store download (30MB → 500kb)
- ⚡ Native performance: Instant loading, 60fps animations
- 📶 Offline-first: Works without connection (Service Workers)
- 🔔 Push notifications: User engagement (even when app closed)
- 🔍 SEO-friendly: Google indexable (unlike native apps)
- 💰 Reduced cost: 1 web codebase = iOS + Android + Desktop
📱 What is a Progressive Web App?
A PWA is a website that uses modern technologies to offer a native app-like experience, while remaining accessible via a browser.
1️⃣ Reliable
Always works, even offline or on slow network. Service Workers cache assets and data.
2️⃣ Fast
Instant loading (cache), fast interactions, smooth 60fps animations.
3️⃣ Engaging
Immersive experience: fullscreen, push notifications, home screen installation.
⚙️ Service Workers: The Heart of PWAs
The Service Worker is a JavaScript script running in the background, independently from the web page. It handles cache, offline mode, push notifications, and background syncs.
Caching Strategies
1. Cache First (Offline-First)
Check cache first, network fallback. Ideal for: static assets (CSS, JS, images).
2. Network First
Try network first, cache fallback on failure. Ideal for: real-time data (API, feeds).
3. Stale-While-Revalidate
Return cache immediately, fetch in background for update. Ideal for: instant experience.
4. Network Only
Always network, never cache. Ideal for: POST/PUT/DELETE, analytics.
⚛️ PWA with React and Next.js
Creating a PWA with React or Next.js is simple thanks to modern tools.
Next.js with next-pwa
// Installation
npm install next-pwa
// next.config.js
const withPWA = require('next-pwa')({
dest: 'public',
disable: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development',
register: true,
skipWaiting: true,
});
module.exports = withPWA({
// Next.js config
});💼 Case Study: Casablanca Bourse (Connected Space PWA)
🏦 Real-Time Trading Platform
VOID developed the investor space forCasablanca Bourse as a PWA to deliver optimal mobile experience.
🎯 PWA Features
- ✓ Installation: Home icon, fullscreen
- ✓ Offline-first: Portfolio consultation offline
- ✓ Push notifications: Price alerts, executed orders
- ✓ Background sync: Pending orders if disconnected
⚡ Tech Stack
- ✓ Next.js + React Query (state management)
- ✓ Service Workers (Network-First for API)
- ✓ IndexedDB (local portfolio cache)
- ✓ Web Push API (real-time notifications)
📊 Measured Results
- ⚡ 3x faster loading (aggressive asset caching)
- 📱 +40% mobile users (easy installation)
- 🔔 +60% engagement (order push notifications)
- 📶 Offline consultation (cached portfolio)
⚡ PWA Performance & SEO
Performance: Core Web Vitals
LCP <2.5s
Largest Contentful Paint: Cached assets = instant loading
FID <100ms
First Input Delay: No blocking JS, fast app shell
CLS <0.1
Cumulative Layout Shift: Stable layout, skeleton screens
SEO: PWA vs Native App
| Criteria | PWA | Native App |
|---|---|---|
| Google Indexing | ✅ Yes (crawlable) | ❌ No (App Store only) |
| Link Sharing | ✅ Standard URLs | ❌ Complex deep links |
| Installation | ⚡ 1 click (500kb) | 🐌 Store download (30-100MB) |
🎯 Conclusion: PWA, the Future of Mobile Web
PWAs: Modern Standard for Demanding Web Apps
With support from Google, Microsoft, and Apple (improved iOS support), PWAs offer a credible alternative to native apps for most use cases. 80% native experience for 30% of the cost.
Transform Your Site into a High-Performance PWA?
VOID develops custom Progressive Web Apps with React/Next.js. Free site audit + PWA recommendations within 48h.
Let's discuss your PWA project