Mobile apps (PWA)
What is a PWA
A progressive web app (PWA) is an app that's built using web technologies, but that provides a user experience like that of a mobile app.
Like a website, a PWA can be accessed through web browsers. Like a mobile app, a PWA can be installed on a phone.
Publishing a PWA
If you want your users to be able to install your WeWeb app on their phone, you will need to go to More
> Mobile App (PWA)
and provide the following required information:
App name
: the name that will appear under the app when installed on a mobile deviceApp icon
: the icon the app will take on a mobile device home screenTheme color
: you can refer to MDN's docs for thisBackground color
: MDN docs
Installing a PWA on a phone
To install your WeWeb app on their phone, users will need to open it in a browser and save it to the homescreen.
When they click on the app's icon to launch it, it will behave like "classic" mobile app.
TIP
How users can save the app on their phone will vary depending on the phone and/or browser they're using.
iOS example
- browse to the web app
- tap on the
Share
icon - choose
Save to Home Screen
Android example
- browse to the web app
- tap on the
Install
icon - follow on-screen instructions
Updating a PWA
When you publish a new version of your app through WeWeb, there is no action required on your side to update the version of the app installed on your users' phones.
Every time you publish a new version of your app, there is a version attached to it. When a user opens the app on their phone, there is an automatic check and the latest version is displayed.
That is standard PWA, not specific to WeWeb.