Globally, more than 40% of IT enterprises and programmers in the last year are using React web framework for developing multi-purpose progressive web applications for different business functionalities.

Modern-day businesses prefer the concept of Progressive Web App Development as such applications integrate the benefits of both web and native applications. The exclusive benefits of Progressive Web Application include speed, cost-efficiency, simple design, offline operations, push notifications, engagement, reliability, etc. React PWA example with top brands like Google, Starbucks, Twitter, Flipkart that are already investing in React Progressive Web App for high conversion rates, customer engagement, and building up their brands. Most organizations develop progressive web app with ReactJS as it is a widely used web framework that facilitates flexibility, speed, scalability, component-driven approach, and more to developers and programmers.

Click here to know why many businesses prefer PWA applications over usual mobile applications.

Building Progressive Web Apps with ReactJS

Building Progressive Web Apps require certain conditional elements like secure network via HTTPS for developing trusted sites for web applications, manifest (JSON) file for application look and feel with controls like icons, designs, URLs, etc., and scripts or service workers to control network requests and caching via web browsers for quick web page access and better customer experience.

To build React Progressive Web App, React UI library available as the open-source project is utilized along with JavaScript webpack. This combination enables programmers to develop highly scalable, large, hot reloading supported user interfaces for web apps.

How to Build PWA Apps with ReactJS?

Building a React Web App with ReactJS framework allows developers to make modifications during the runtime and helps them to enhance the UI designs and functionality to another level. Let us have a close look at the basic procedure to develop web application using ReactJS:

Setting Up a Simple PWA: Use the installed CreateReactApp tool to build the simple PWA or run the below command if not installed already.

npm i create-react-app –g

Registering a Service Worker:

The configuration of the auto-generated Service Worker file is required for the offline operability of the React PWA. The index.js file for the new project contains the unregistered Service Worker by default. To register it, the programmer requires to modify the call from unregister() to register().

Web App Manifest Configuration:

The manifest.js file available in the public folder contains the metadata which controls the application appearance during its launch. It is found at the following location:

<link rel=”manifest” href=”%PUBLIC_URL%/manifest.json” />

Loading Build Folder into Browser: 

Run this command to build the project.

npm run build

Next, install the http-server and load the build folder into the browser. Then, add ‘start’ in the scripts of the manifest.json file.

Testing React PWA:

For testing react PWA, it should be run in the production mode. The command for the same is

npm run build

npx server build

Utilize the Lighthouse tool from Chrome DevTools to access and test your created react PWA for secure network, page loading, mobile-friendly UI, loading on offline connections, etc.

The PWA React development process is simplified with packaged files and ready-to-use scripts in Progressive Web App store, and advanced tools which minimize efforts.

 What Should You Focus Before Developing PWA Apps?

Before attempting to develop PWA apps with any technology or framework like ReactJS, there are some considerations or focuses which should be considered for a directional and successful approach for React Progressive Web App development:

• Having a secure network connection such as https is needed.
• Page loading performance should be improved than before.
• Mobile-friendly design for progressive mobile app development for a large-scale customer base.
• PWA user interface should be engaging and go with the brand presence.
• Web page access in slow internet or offline network should be considered.
• Using JS libraries intelligently to utilize the strong aspects for PWAs.
• The progressive site access for customer engagement and easiness is necessary.
• Cost considerations with reliable software packages and standard tools available in the market.

In addition, programmers can integrate more points as per their business project scalability and requirements before going for a PWA development.

Advantages of PWAs with ReactJS

As mentioned before ReactJS adds more power to Progressive Web Apps with its open-source UI library and scripts. The interested company or individual programmer should be aware of all the benefits of building an open-source React Progressive Web App as mentioned here:

Cutting your Costs to Minimal

For building Progressive Web App using React.js, minimal management, fewer resources are required which overpowers the benefits of React Native app development. Also, PWAs are simpler to develop with easy push updates and real-time working unlike native apps filling app stores.

No Reliance on Network Connections

React Progressive Web Application fully supports flaky internet connections or even for offline networks which increases its demand in the eCommerce market. The eCommerce PWA with React is highly accessible at times of low networks and works progressively without interruptions.

Apps on Hot Reloading 

For developers and programmers, developing eCommerce PWA using React is highly advantageous as it supports Hot Reloading which allows changes in runtime without any effect on other aspects at all.

Top Level Customer Engagement 

With the inclusion of a rich library, React PWA is built customized user-interface creations based on the customers’ preferences and demands. So, customer engagement is not at all an issue.

Fast Page Loading and Accessibility

Customers are highly satisfied with the quick web page loading in React Web Application, and it improves customer retention on the page, unlike native apps page accessibility where the customer drops the plan to purchase owing to the slow page response.

Efficient Support to Mobiles

eCommerce PWAs are mostly accessed in mobiles and the use of ReactJS framework to build these apps adds to the integrity and efficient support to mobile UI with good scalability.

There are more advantages linked to PWA with ReactJS which helps a Progressive Web App Development Company to build efficient and progressive web applications.

Would you like to Build PWA Apps with ReactJS?

If you are already interested in the concept of building PWA Apps with ReactJS to elevate your brand/business or are inspired by this article, we recommend you try the professional progressive web app development services. Contact CG-VAK for outstanding consulting and support for building the best Progressive Web Apps with different technologies and frameworks.

Ending Note

Progressive Web App is the future of business branding and commercialization. It is progressive on the trials of replacing the native applications which require installation and device storage with internet dependency. Still, there is a lot to improve with underlying PWA challenges like no cross-platform support, in the development phase, not being publishable to Apple Store, etc.