A Guide on Progressive Web App with React: The Long-Term Solution for Business Growth

Quick Overview: The Progressive web app with React is high-hailing on the industrial horizon. It has enhanced the demand for React as the most desirable framework for PWA development. PWA is a good plan if you also want to make visible growth. But thinking, why pick React for PWA? Well, get into the guide on why choose React for PWA development and how to create PWA with React!  

React: Most Powerful PWA Framework 

A recent research by Statista says that React is the second-most used web framework by developers in 2024. It is a highly popular JavaScript framework for PWA development. You can create flexible, responsive, and reliable progressive web apps for any business type. 

Progressive web apps are the trailblazing solution to gain wider customer engagement quickly. You can look into the blog for the PWA Benefits to get an in-depth understanding. However, The question of choosing React for PWA development is well-explained below. 

Why build a progressive web app with React? 

There are ample reasons for building a Progressive Web App with React.js. With complementary components and feature-pack results, React easily fits the tech requirements of your PWA frameworks. Moreover, React is such a brilliant choice for future-proof applications. Accordingly, there are numerous reasons for why you choose React to build a PWA. Let’s discuss them below to help you with accurate decision-making.

• Ease of Use

First and foremost reason that has convinced the majority of clients about its simplified usage. As progressive web applications are already perceived as sophisticated software types, using React declines the hiccups. It has a quick learning curve and supports JavaScript XML (JSX) files. However, you can also use HTML-like syntax in the codebase. So, it doesn’t have limitations for specific extensions or features and opens opportunities to explore higher possibilities for PWA development. 

• SEO-Optimized PWA

There are diverse progressive web apps concerned with SEO. It is a majorly appealing solution with powerful rendering of web applications. Showing the website on Google results is an entirely SEO-based game, and React for your PWA Development wins it smoothly. Thus, it optimizes your PWAs using the virtual DOM. As a result, your content on web pages will be indexed proficiently.

• Variety of Libraries & Tools 

React is the perfect umbrella solution inclusive of numerous libraries and tools. Being the best JavaScript framework, React has pre-built libraries that benefit your progressive web app development. It has been the most popular framework with the strength of vast libraries. It is a stellar solution, from developer tools for debugging and testing to top React chart libraries. So, React JS for PWA development furnishes design, data visualization, and performance aspects.       

• Reliable & Scalability 

The trust of a vast community of ReactJS and the ever-adaptable nature of new trends is awesome. Building a progressive web app with React.Js will efficiently manage the secure development environment. It can potentially give your PWA good exposure for a market edge. Also, making its UI components makes React the pioneering frontend infrastructure. You can make fast-loading webpages with a reusable codebase to minimize the development time.

• Full-Fledged Features  

There are different React features used for progressive web applications. Making your PWA with React.js can envelope the given features efficiently.

• Hot Reloading
• Code Reusability
• JavaScript-Powered
• Virtual DOM 
• Accessible to Multiple Browsers or devices
• Automated testing

However, the primary benefit of these features comes only when you hire React developers with such hands-on knowledge and expertise. So, it is equally important to look for the ideal developing partner to get the remarkable product. For that, you also need to have some basic technical understanding to develop progressive web apps with React. 

The significance of the right development team can be known with real inspiration. Below are curated details on the most successful progressive web app examples built with React. So, let’s explore their case study.

Real-World Success Stories of React for PWA Development

1) Twitter Lite

Recently known as X, (Twitter) has always been in the spotlight. Either of the controversies or due to its widespread popularity, Twitter has been an amazing social media platform. With millions of active users, accusing Twitter from mobile, it has to enhance performance. As about 80% of Twitter app users on mobile need fast-loading and more engaging applications, its PWA has come into consideration. It complies with the recent-edge web along with native functionalities. Accordingly, in 2017 the PWA version of the app became the default mobile web experience for all users. The major KPIs of this transformation are;

• 20% reduction in bounce rate
• 65% increase in page per session
• 5 seconds load time in 3G network 

Moreover, Twitter Lite is now cost-effective and quick with a 75% increase in Tweets shared. The cherry on the cake is that it consumes less than 3% of storage than Twitter on Android devices. 

2) Starbucks

The next one is the beverages megastar, Starbucks. The online ordering and nearby store locator of Starbucks have been revamped to a progressive web application using React. It has delivered the high-performance PWA with an exact native-like feel. 

Aside from React for PWA development, Starbucks has also used GraphQL and server-side rendering solutions for quick load time. It gets SEO-optimized and has higher conversion rates. Following are the key accomplishments of building Starbucks’s progressive web app with React;

• 99.34% better lightweight
• 23% increased order diversity 
• Top-notch user experience  

In other words, the Starbucks PWA has furnished customers with a customized menu, complicated data structure, and user-centric ordering navigation. 

Now, moving to the components requirement of PWA development. 

PWA Development Checklist 

The following components are must-haves for Progressive web app development with React. So, it’s necessary to take note of them for developing your dream PWA. 

• Web App Manifest 

The web app manifest is a JSON file that works as the PWA interface. It is a primary essential component for progressive web applications. Web app manifests configure the name, color palette, icons, typography, and so on. Further, it manages how efficient your PWA looks on different device users. So, your PWA should be smoothly installed and shown on the user’s mobile screen just like other native apps. 

• Service Workers

The service workers are the core technical base of PWA. The service worker is a JS file that works as the bridge between the browser and the server. It establishes the root of the web app to handle and process requests and responses. So, it is essential to manage the offline potential and accessibility of PWA functionalities. 

• Application Shell

Now, having the application shell ensures the rendering and loading of content. With faster and smoother PWA performance in minimal data consumption, the PWA interface can be operated swiftly. So, the application shell manages the PWA basics. 

• HTTPS 

The service Worker usually serves on HTTPS which includes the SSL encryption on the web server. It is the widely known method for encrypting the web application. Thus, to develop progressive web apps with React, it is the ideal and certified security solution.  

As you get a good grasp of the PWA development checklist, let’s jump into building a Progressive Web App with React.

How to Develop Progressive Web App With React?

When you decide to create PWA with React, you must have sound knowledge of the process. Even though you can hire React developers, having details on the steps will help interview the developers as well. So, here you go…

1) Develop React Application 

To begin React web app development, you can use the below command for creating React apps. In addition to that, for PWA efficiency you need to enable new JavaScript functionality using tools like Webpack. 

~ npx create-react-app my-pwa-app --template cra-template-pwa

In the above codes, npx is a command-line tool for running the npm packages, create-react-app is a command. It sets up a new React project with the my-pwa-app name of your project. Then, –template cra-template-pwa uses the PWA template provided by Create React App. After creating your app, navigate to your project directory with the below command.

~ cd my-pwa-app

2) Run Your React Application 

To run your application, you need to enter the following command in your CMD / Terminal. It will operate your application to http://localhost:3000 URL. Further, this will enable your app to access the browser and verify your app’s workability.

~ npm start

Accordingly, it is ready to move ahead with running the progressive web application with React. You need to first add the service workers. 

3) Add Service Workers

As you know building Progressive Web Apps with React needs to be set up for offline mode. To activate the service worker, open your src/index.js file and look for this section.

// If you want your app to work offline and load faster, you can change

// unregister() to register() below. Note this comes with some pitfalls.

// Learn more about service workers: https://cra.link/PWA

serviceWorkerRegistration.register();   //change the service worker registration from 'unregistered' to 'registered'

As you register as a service worker your PWA development using React your app will be able to cache assets and work offline.

4) Set Up Web Application Manifest

Moving into setting the web application manifest for building a progressive web app with React. Your PWA’s manifest file is situated in the public/manifest.json path of the directory. Now, you have to modify the metadata of that file to manage the look of your PWA. Here are the manifest file codes, you have to alter: 

{ 
 "short_name": "PWA App", 
 "name": "My Progressive Web App", 
 "icons": [ 
{ 
"src": "/android-chrome-192x192.png", 
"sizes": "192x192", 
"type": "image/png" 
}, 
{ 
"src": "/android-chrome-512x512.png", 
"sizes": "512x512", 
"type": "image/png" 
} 
 ], 
 "start_url": "/", 
 "theme_color": "#F4BD42", 
 "background_color": "#2B2929", 
 "display": "standalone", 
 "scope": "/" 
}

Moreover, this metadata in the manifest.json file helps to show icons, names, colors, etc, aspects of the web app when displayed on the home screen. Thus, it supports users of the web app using browsers like Chrome on Android. You can also refer to the detailed technical insight on the web app manifest properties guide.

5) Test Your React PWA 

It is time to test your PWA on React. For that, you need to deploy and run your app on the static server to localhost. 

~ npm run build

~ npx serve -s build

With these commands, you have successfully made the React for PWA development. Using Chrome DevTools like Lighthouse, you can further check and improve the PWA performance.   

It’s just the basic steps for beginning your progressive web app development with React. Additionally, you can also get advanced solutions shortcuts, integrate APIs, and add other PWA features. The PWA development cost will be quite budget-friendly if you consider outsourcing. 

The Bottom-Line

React has proven an effective framework for progressive web application development. With offering unparalleled flexibility and component-based architecture, it has already made remarkable solutions. Its robust ecosystem makes it an ideal choice for creating dynamic, high-performance web applications. Furthermore, your business can leverage React for an innovative digital presence.

Extend your business and create PWA with React mobile app development services from Rlogical Techsoft. We provide comprehensive PWA based on your industry trends. By seamlessly integrating your PWA with our ReactJS-based web solutions, your business will skyrocket. Our expertise in delivering tailored, high-quality PWA applications builds your projects with optimal scalability and future-ready. Feel free to consult with our mobile app developers right away!