Offline-First Approach to Build a User-Friendly App

Most developers don’t consider offline-support a feature when designing an app. With smartphones, users can access the internet anytime anywhere. As long as the app is communicating with the server, there is hardly any need to run the app offline.  

However, mobile networks aren’t always reliable all the time and everywhere. And that’s where offline architecture can make a difference. The offline-first approach focuses on developing mobile applications with offline capabilities, where they can work independently of network connections. Implementing this approach enables easier data synchronization and update synchronization. Offline architecture also reduces roaming costs, minimizes data usage, and saves battery power.  

Spotify, Trip advisor, Google maps, and Google drive are some offline-first apps which are quite popular among the users. For instance, Trip advisor– a travel program app provides many offline features like detailed reviews, maps and images allowing tourists to choose their travel itinerary efficiently. Similarly, Google Drive provides the option where users can work on a file even without an internet   

Now, you may be wondering – how the offline-first apps work without an internet connection and will the data be updated and stored when the user is offline? For that, first you must know how both online first approach and offline first approach works. 

Most of us have a basic know-how of an online app working. App data, typically, resides on its constituent server, centralizing all information about the app. This approach of storing app information enables users to enjoy smooth synchronization with the availability of internet connection.  Offline applications, on the other hand, do not need to be updated on a regular basis. You do not have to keep requesting updated information from the server. The entire set of data is stored on the user’s device and hence user has the access to the downloaded information.  

In addition, balancing between the offline and online sync approach enables your app to sync data between multiple devices even when the data is updated in offline mode. The changes users make on their mobile devices while offline will be synced to the cloud and then to all other devices when the internet connection is finally restored.    

Adding offline support as a feature in your app guarantees reliability, enhances user experience, builds customer support, and helps your business gain a competitive edge.  

With a decade of experience in mobile app development services, we, at Hashbrown Systems, have successfully implemented the offline-first approach in our products.  

Click here to learn about our mobile application development services and app development solutions. Or check out our portfolio here.