Unlock the Full Potential of Progressive Web Apps with Browser Storage
When we think of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs), we often associate them with caching static resources to enable offline navigation. However, PWAs can do so much more with browser storage. By leveraging browser storage, we can build fully functional interactive offline apps that can store user inputs, API response data, and rarely changing server-side data, ensuring a seamless user experience even without an internet connection.
The Power of Browser Storage
Browsers provide two primary storage mechanisms: localStorage and IndexedDB. While both have their limitations, they offer persistent and accessible offline storage solutions. localStorage is easy to use but limited to storing string data, has a small storage size, and is synchronous. IndexedDB, on the other hand, is asynchronous, supports various data types, and has a higher storage limit. However, working with the native IndexedDB API can be cumbersome.
Introducing localForage
This is where localForage comes in – an offline storage solution that simplifies working with offline storages by providing an abstraction layer over them. localForage combines the flexibility of IndexedDB with a simple asynchronous localStorage-like API, making it easier to store data offline.
Building a Fully Functional Offline CRUD App
Let’s build a hypothetical CRM sales app using localForage to store customer contact details. We’ll create a simple HTML page with a form for collecting customer data and a table to display all customer details.
Setting Up localForage
First, we’ll set up an HTML page and configure our offline database using localForage’s createInstance method. We’ll create a new database (CRMApp) and a store (ContactTable) for our app.
Adding a New Customer
When a sales rep enters new customer details, we’ll store the data in the browser storage and display it on the table. We’ll use localForage’s setItem method to add the customer detail object to the contactTable store.
Loading All Customer Data
Next, we’ll read all customer details data and display it on the table whenever the app is refreshed, reloaded, or opened on another tab. We’ll use localForage’s iterate method to loop through all entries in the offline database.
Deleting a Customer
We’ll give sales reps the ability to delete a customer’s contact details from the table. We’ll remove the contact from the app interface as well as from the offline database when the delete button is clicked.
Updating a Customer
We’ll also give sales reps the ability to edit and update customers’ details, even if they’re offline. When the edit button is clicked, we’ll show a modal with a form containing target individual customer details and an update button. When the update button is clicked, we’ll update the target customer detail entry in the offline database and also on the table.
Background Syncing
The next step is to implement background syncing into the storage flow, depending on the remote database you decide to use.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored the power and incredible usefulness of browser offline storages and how localForage makes working with and managing them easier. We’ve also demonstrated how to perform basic CRUD functions on browser storage using localForage. Now, go build something awesome with this newly gained knowledge!