Glossary / PWA
What is a PWA?
progressive web app
A PWA (progressive web app) is a website built so it can be installed on a phone or computer and used like an app: it gets an icon, opens full screen, and can work partly offline.
A PWA is still a web app. People reach it through a browser and can add it to their home screen, with no app store involved.
To feel like an app it uses a manifest file (name, icon, colours) and a service worker, a small script that can cache files so the app opens quickly and keeps working on a weak connection.
PWAs are cheaper to build and update than store apps, since there is one version for everyone. The trade-off is less access to some phone features and no presence in the app stores, where many people look first.
Questions
Can a PWA go in the App Store?
Not directly. To appear in the App Store or Google Play, a web app is usually wrapped in a native shell with a tool such as Capacitor.
Do PWAs work on iPhone?
Yes, they can be added to the home screen from Safari, though some features are more limited on iOS than on Android.