PWA (Progressive Web App)
Short definition
A PWA is technology that lets a website be installed on a phone, open like an app, work offline and send notifications.
Once a website meets certain technical requirements, a secure connection, a manifest file and a background service worker, the browser offers the visitor an add to home screen option. The installed icon opens like a normal app, and some content remains viewable without an internet connection.
You meet it when a business wants an app-like experience without submitting to the App Store or Google Play, or needs that experience on a limited budget.
It is often confused with a native mobile app such as one built in Flutter or React Native. A PWA runs on browser technology and needs no store approval, but it cannot reach some device features, such as the camera or location, as deeply as a native app can.
Whether a site is a PWA can be checked from the install icon that appears in the browser's address bar, or from the installability result in Chrome DevTools' Lighthouse audit. If the icon never appears, the manifest file or the service worker is usually missing or misconfigured, and the technical team can check both files to close the gap.
Why it matters
Building a mobile app takes time and a store approval process. A PWA turns the same website into an app-like experience quickly, removing that cost and wait.
Illustrative example
A spa chain's booking site is set up as a PWA, so customers add it to their phone as an icon and reach the booking page directly, without downloading a separate app.
