Push Notification
Short definition
A push notification is a message a mobile app or website sends directly to a phone screen, even when the visitor does not have it open.
Once a user grants permission, the app's server can send a short message that appears on the lock screen or in the notification bar at any moment; tapping it usually takes the user straight to the relevant page inside the app.
You meet it for time-sensitive messages such as an order status update, an appointment reminder or a back-in-stock alert; it is noticed far faster than an email.
It is often confused with email notifications. Email is seen once the user opens their inbox, whereas a push notification lands on screen even while the device is locked, as long as permission is granted; overusing it pushes users to switch permission off.
How well a notification campaign performs is tracked through the delivery and click rates in a push panel such as Firebase Cloud Messaging or OneSignal, which shows exactly how many devices each message reached and how many were actually opened. If delivery is high but the click rate is low, the fault usually lies not in permission but in the send time or the message content itself.
Why it matters
A short notification sent at the right moment prompts action immediately, without waiting for an email to be opened days later. Used carelessly, it leads to permission being revoked and the app being deleted.
Illustrative example
A spa chain's app sends a reminder notification an hour before an appointment, and no-show rates dropped noticeably after it was introduced.
