Database Development
In the current digital age, with many users relying heavily on mobile devices as their primary method of getting online, users have come to expect that applications will run without interruption, even if they lose connectivity (for example, due to dropped connections while travelling). While there are situations where users may be required to work remotely, it is still important for these users to have access to key functional areas of the application when conditions are such that they are unable to connect to the network. In addition to increasing customer satisfaction through a better user experience with the application, providing offline capabilities to a hybrid application will lead to improved reliability and performance of the hybrid app, as well as improved levels of engagement with the end user.
Hybrid applications built on any of the current platforms and developed with bean frameworks such as Ionic, React Native and Flutter will deliver a “native-like” user experience using web-based technologies. These types of applications can provide seamless access to offline experiences, similar to what users have come to expect with traditional native apps. The best practices for implementing offline functionality within hybrid applications are outlined within this blog, along with tools and techniques that can be used by developers to implement offline functionality into their own hybrid applications, thereby providing a seamless and consistent user experience, irrespective of whether or not a user has Internet access.
Why is Offline Functionality Important in Hybrid Apps?
Offline Functionality is No Longer an optional feature; it has become an expectation of users. The following list explains the importance of offline functionality in hybrid applications:
1. Users have uninterrupted access to the core functionality of the application when they are unable to connect to the Internet.
2. Users are satisfied with applications that provide offline access, as they provide a sense of security and provide more choices to the user, thereby creating less frustration when users cannot connect to the Internet.
3. Offline storage or caching of data reduces load on the server and will provide faster response times for users.
4. Supports business-critical use cases
Industries like retail, logistics, field services, healthcare, and finance often need offline-ready apps.
5. Gives competitive advantage
Offline-first apps rank higher in user experience, retention, and ratings across app stores.
Key Strategies to Improve Offline Functionality in Hybrid Apps
Do you want to learn how to improve the function of a hybrid app when it is offline? This is the best way to do it!
1. Store User Data Locally
Local storage provides the foundation for an offline app to function properly. The way you store your data depends on the complexity of your hybrid app as well as the framework you are using.
Options for local data storage include:
- SQLite
- IndexedDB
- SecureStorage
- LocalStorage
- PouchDB
- File storage
To take advantage of a seamless offline experience, you should store items your users require, such as user profiles, product catalogues, off-line cached instances of the application’s UI, and the user’s preferences to load on-demand for Offline usage (no network connection required) to avoid any additional waiting.
Tip: After you regain access to the network ensure that your users will continue to have reliable access to their stored data by implementing a sync solution when the network becomes available.
2. Create a Smart Cache for Misinformation
Storing the images and icons used within your hybrid app, the results of API requests made to your app, the components of the user interface, text messages, and information can help you to provide a better experience, faster and with less reliance on a network.
Examples of potential offline caching strategies:
- Cache-first
- Network-first
- Stale-while-revalidating
- Cache-only for static items
You can easily create a caching mechanism using service worker technology (found in Progressive Web Apps).
3. Create an Offline-First Environment
An offline-first approach entails that the application is designed to support offline users, but will synchronise their online information once they have internet access.
Some advantages of this are:
- Users can instantly access features of your app
- Less server traffic
- Users get quicker access to the app
- More likely to be able to use the app
An offline-first strategy emphasises the experience of using your app as an offline user and only later will any of that information be merged back to the server.
4. Use Background Sync to Match Online Data
When a hybrid application has network access restored it will, automatically:
- Upload offline stored data
- Download up-to-date content
- Synchronise user preferences and activity
By allowing background synchronisation, you the developer have provided users with an easy way of managing data.
5. Provide Clear Feedback to Users Regarding Offline Use
To create a better user experience when using an application offline, you will need to provide guidance to users about where they are in their offline journey by providing the following types of user feedback:
- Display an “Offline Mode” banner
- Provide indicators for any non-functional actions
- Provide a way to see cached versions of the page they are trying to access
- Provide users with “Retry” and “Synchronise Now” buttons
Providing users with clarity on how to use your application can create a more user-friendly experience and will promote confidence in the application’s ability to perform as expected.
6. Limit Data Usage and Payload Size of App
Hybrid applications are notorious for large API responses and consuming substantial amounts of data. To keep your application operating in a reliable offline environment, consider:
- Use lightweight REST or GraphQL responses
- Compress Images/Assets
- Don’t store unnecessary information
- Reduce the number of server calls during periods of Offline Usage
By creating smaller payload sizes, you will improve the reliability and performance of your application in both an online and Offline Usage environment.
7. Use delta sync to reduce data conflicts
Delta sync allows an application to sync only what has changed, not the entire dataset. This reduces:
- Data conflict
- Data overwrite
- High battery and data usage
Delta sync is especially useful for apps that require the use of forms, eCommerce, inventory management, and messaging.
8. Provide secure offline data storage
Protecting your data while offline is important. You need to implement the following:
- Encrypt the data
- Store the data securely
- Use token-based authentication
- Use role-based data access
This will ensure sensitive user data stored on the device is safe.
9. Conduct thorough testing for offline
Offline testing is critical. You should conduct testing by performing the following:
- Test the app in airplane mode
- Test the app with a very weak network signal
- Validate that offline cache works
- Resolve sync conflicts
- Test switching between networks
Conducting testing consistently ensures that your application will provide reliable offline operation in the real world.
10. Create graceful error handling
If the user is trying to use a network dependent function and it cannot be executed, you should provide them with:
- Meaningful error message
- Alternate options to try
- Offline content preloaded
An effective error handling strategy helps users to move smoothly through their task.
Conclusion
To give users a consistent, dependable, and high-performing hybrid app, improving offline user experiences is essential. By using smart caching, offline-first architecture, background synchronization, and secure local storage, a hybrid app will provide a positive end-user experience even without the availability of an Internet connection.
Adding robust offline capabilities to a mobile hybrid app can enhance user engagement and, in turn, improve the overall success of the application, regardless of whether it is a business-critical mobile application or an eCommerce platform. In fact, hybrid apps that function offline will have a higher likelihood of climbing to the top of search engine results, being retained by users, and standing out from the competition in the mobile app industry.
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