Introduction
From a user’s perspective, mobile applications can be categorized as educational, informational, gaming, entertainment, communication, e-commerce, and so on. From a developer’s point of view, mobile apps can be classified based on the different technologies used to develop them:
- Mobile web apps: Responsive versions of websites that work on any mobile device or operating system.
- Native applications: Applications developed specifically for a particular platform or operating system (e.g., Android or iOS).
- Hybrid applications: A combination of native and web applications—essentially, a mobile web page displayed in an app-like container.
- Progressive Web Applications (PWAs): Modern web applications that behave like websites when accessed but offer functionality similar to native apps.
In this article, we will take a closer look at Progressive Web Applications: their benefits and limitations, and what specific aspects should be tested.
A PWA offers many features such as offline mode and push notifications, and it allows users to create a home screen shortcut—just like native apps. Essentially, PWAs combine the best aspects of both web and native applications.
A PWA is a web-based app that can be installed on Android and iOS devices. Instagram and Twitter, for example, offer PWA versions. These can be installed without going through the App Store or Google Play, simply by creating a shortcut.
Today, PWAs are a trendy concept in software development. When designed with the right architecture, they provide seamless functionality across different devices, platforms, and screen resolutions.
Advantages of PWAs
- Wider audience reach in a shorter time: PWAs don’t require platform-specific packaging and distribution, which helps reach more users quickly.
- Cross-platform compatibility: PWAs work across multiple platforms and devices.
- Cost and time efficiency: Since they don’t require separate native versions, PWAs are cheaper and faster to develop and maintain.
- Low bandwidth performance: PWAs work reliably even in areas with low internet speed, making them ideal for regions with slower mobile networks.
- Automatic updates: PWAs update themselves in the background—there’s no need to manage or patch multiple versions.
- No dependency on app stores: Unlike native apps, PWAs don’t need to be submitted to the App Store or Google Play.
- Native app features: PWAs support push notifications, offline access, and other native-like features.
- Security: PWAs rely heavily on HTTPS, which ensures secure communication.
- Minimal disk space usage: Since they are essentially web-based, PWAs require less storage on the user’s device.
Limitations of PWAs
- Limited access to device resources: PWAs cannot fully control hardware resources like battery, which can be a challenge in performance optimization.
- Device-specific functionality: Leveraging advanced hardware features (e.g., fingerprint sensors or custom chipsets) is often restricted.
- Feature limitations: While they may appear similar to native apps, PWAs do not support every native feature. Certain functionality may always be limited.
How to Test a PWA
If you’re already familiar with testing native and web applications, testing PWAs shouldn’t be a challenge. However, there are some PWA-specific aspects that require extra attention:
- Manifest file validation:
The manifest.json file makes the app “installable” like a native one. Key elements to validate include:- Identity: Name, short name, and description. The short name should match what appears in the “Add to Home Screen” prompt.
- Presentation: Start URL, theme color, background color, orientation, and display mode must be checked.
- Display: Controls how the app appears (fullscreen, standalone, minimal UI, etc.).
- Theme/background colors: Ensure the visual elements match the design.
- Orientation: Test both portrait and landscape modes as required.
- Icons: Check if the icon set works properly across task view, home screen, etc.
- Service Workers:
These scripts run in the background and enable features like offline mode and push notifications. Validate that they work correctly. - Push Notifications:
Confirm that notifications behave as expected across devices, similar to native apps. - Responsiveness:
The UI should adapt seamlessly to different screen sizes and orientations. Test using tools like Responsive Design Checker or real mobile devices. - HTTPS Security:
All content—scripts, styles, and external resources—must be served over HTTPS for the app to function properly. - Offline/low-bandwidth behavior:
Test how the app performs under poor network conditions or when completely offline.
Functionality testing:
Beyond PWA-specific features, verify that all general application features work across devices and browsers
PWAs should be tested on real devices, as variations in hardware and operating systems can affect performance. Also, because PWAs run in browsers, cross-browser testing is essential. Ensure the app can be accessed, downloaded, and used across different mobile browsers and versions.
Summary
In previous articles in this series, we explored the various types of mobile applications and how they influence the testing process.
In upcoming articles, we will examine the physical and virtual tools available for testing mobile apps across multiple devices.
Until then—happy testing!
