Unlock the Secrets of Fast and Scalable Web Apps with PRPL
What is PRPL?
PRPL, an acronym for Push, Render, Pre-cache, and Lazy load, is a pattern designed to build modern web apps that deliver exceptional user experiences. Conceived by the Google Chrome team, PRPL leverages cutting-edge technologies like Service Workers, Background sync, Cache API, Priority hints, and pre-fetching to accelerate web performance.
Push (or Preload) Critical Resources
The first step in the PRPL pattern is to push critical resources to the browser, allowing them to be retrieved quickly without fetching over the network. This is achieved using the rel="preload" attribute, which tells the browser to request a resource as soon as possible. By preloading essential resources like stylesheets, JavaScript files, and media files, you can significantly improve page loading times.
Render the Initial Route as Quickly as Possible
The second step is to render the initial route of your web app as quickly as possible. This involves optimizing for First Contentful Paint, eliminating render-blocking resources, and leveraging Server-Side Rendering (SSR) to produce the first paint before the rest of the payload arrives. In React, for example, you can use ReactDOMServer to build a server-side rendered app.
Pre-cache Remaining Assets
Pre-caching involves caching assets in the browser so that they can be served from the cache when requested, rather than interrupting the user experience. This technique is particularly useful when the phone is offline or in data-saver mode. Service workers, like Workbox from Google, provide caching strategies like Stale-while-revalidate, Cache first, Network first, Cache only, and Network only to choose from.
Lazy Load Other Routes and Non-Critical Assets
Lazy loading defers the loading of routes and assets until they are needed, reducing the risk of web app performance problems. By code splitting and loading only the desired bundle, lazy loading optimizes response time and resource consumption. Native lazy loading is supported in Chrome, and can be achieved by adding the loading attribute to resources. Alternatively, libraries like Angular, React, and Vue use the Intersection Observer API to lazy load components and resources.
The Future of Fast and Scalable Web Apps
By following the PRPL pattern, you can create modern web apps that deliver exceptional user experiences. With its emphasis on pushing critical resources, rendering the initial route quickly, pre-caching remaining assets, and lazy loading other routes and non-critical assets, PRPL provides a comprehensive approach to optimizing web performance. The future of fast and scalable web apps is here – are you ready to unlock its secrets?