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Learn progressive web apps with online courses and programs

Many businesses use progressive web apps to improve user engagement and retention. Learn how to build progressive web apps with online courses delivered through edX.
Progressive Web Apps | Introduction Image Description

What are progressive web apps?

Progressive web apps (PWAs) are web applications that you can access through a web browser. They come with a fast and reliable user experience and work on several widely used devices and platforms.Footnote 1

Some features of progressive web apps include app-like navigation, background sync for improved offline experience, push notifications, and smooth animations. They’re also responsive, come with faster load times, update themselves even when the app is not in use, are secure because of HTTPS endpoint capability, and have cross-device compatibility.Footnote 2 The main difference between progressive web apps and native web apps is that you can access them through a browser and do not require installation from an app store.Footnote 3

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Progressive web apps tutorial curriculum

Individuals who want to learn how to develop, use, manipulate, and leverage progressive web apps can start with introductory courses that cover topics including structural overview, foundational blocks, and concepts of responsive design in CSS like fluid grids, flexible replaced elements, and media queries. Once you grasp the basics, you can move on to study more complex concepts. 

Advanced courses may cover: 

  • Service workers and instruction on making PWAs function in offline mode 

  • Elements that make PWAs installable

  • SEO for progressive web apps

  • Notification and push application programming interfaces (APIs)

  • Progressive loading 

  • Mobile-first PWAs

  • Client-side storage and web storage API

If you’re interested in a career in this field, a solid educational foundation with a relevant bachelor’s degree can help. Learners who want to expand their knowledge or those who already have a bachelor’s can pursue an online master’s degree program. edX offers a wide range of educational opportunities from full degree programs to accelerated boot camps on specialized topics to executive education programs for busy professionals. Find the learning path that best fits your needs.

Explore progressive web apps jobs

Experts in building PWAs can put their skills to use in job roles like:

  • UX/UI designer: Designs engaging experiences and interfaces for websites, apps, and other digital products.Footnote 4

  • Web developer: Designs and builds web pages and web apps with the help of various programming languages and frameworks like Ruby or PHP.Footnote 5 

  • Front-end developer: Designs, develops, and tests user interfaces of web applications. They may create the user interface components with HTML and CSS, optimize the website or application for maximum speed and scalability, and collaborate with designers to ensure the UX is seamless.Footnote 6

  • Back-end developer: Designs and develops back-end architectures, writes maintainable and testable code, integrates back-end services with front-end applications, and troubleshoots issues.Footnote 7

  • Mobile developer: Develops mobile applications on iOS and Android platforms.Footnote 8

  • Flutter developer: Develops mobile apps with the help of the Flutter framework by Google.Footnote 9

  • Ecommerce developer: Uses a combination of tools to create Magento progressive web apps specifically for ecommerce businesses.Footnote 10 Their focus is on establishing brands, maintaining the web app, and contributing to a secure and seamless user experience.Footnote 11

Each of these careers will have different educational and skills requirements. For example, you may be able to build relevant programming skills in a coding boot camp or study designing for digital products and services in a UI/UX boot camp. However, some employers may seek out candidates with degrees. Before deciding on the best learning path for you, research potential job roles and align your learning with your professional aspirations. 

How to make progressive web apps as a web developer

There are many frameworks you can use to create PWAs, like Angular, React, Polymer, Ionic, and Vue.js.Footnote 12 In addition, you may use React Native, Kotlin, and Swift for mobile PWAs. 

As a PWA developer, your core responsibilities may comprise troubleshooting errors or bugs in existing PWAs, conducting comprehensive testing of PWAs across various devices and platforms to ensure compatibility, and reviewing code written by other developers to maintain codebase consistency.

It is also important to remain up-to-date with the latest trends in the field.

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Frequently asked questions

You can start with a simple design that is easy to navigate and looks visually beautiful. Try to use responsive design techniques to guarantee optimal visual presentation of your app on different screen sizes. You can optimize images and use caching techniques to make your app faster. Then, you can use the web app manifest and service worker to allow users to install your app and use it offline. Finally, you can test your app using different devices and networks to ensure that it works well in real-world scenarios.

PWAs combine the advantages of both web and mobile applications. As a result, they offer numerous advantages over traditional apps. For example, they are available offline or with limited connectivity, provide an app-like experience without the users having to download the app, are fast, dynamic, and may use less data.

PWAs work on a range of devices and platforms. For example, Microsoft provides instructions for developing a PWA for Android.Footnote 13 Google also offers step-by-step instructions for PWAs on an Android device.Footnote 14

It means a website that has the look and feel of an app. They have native application features, but the user doesn’t necessarily have to download or install the app from an app store.

Traditional web apps run inside a web browser and rely on an internet connection. In contrast, you can install progressive web apps directly to a device's home screen and run them offline. In addition, progressive web apps offer a more engaging experience through features such as push notifications, full-screen mode, and access to native device features like the camera and microphone.