Service Workers That Make Your App Load in Under 100ms on Repeat Visits

Service workers are the engine behind every PWA capability: offline access, background sync, push notifications, and instant loading. We implement service workers with caching strategies tailored to each resource type so your app loads near-instantly from cache and works reliably on any network condition.

3x

higher conversion for 1-second sites compared to 5-second sites, and service worker caching makes repeat visits load in under 100ms from local cache

Portent, 2022

Service Worker Implementation

Service worker implementation with cache-first, network-first, and stale-while-revalidate strategies for offline access, background sync, push notifications, and instant repeat loads.
Smartphone displaying popular social media apps like Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, and Snapchat.

What's Included

Everything you get with our Service Worker Implementation

Caching Strategy Architecture

Per-resource caching strategies: cache-first for static assets and app shell, network-first for API responses, stale-while-revalidate for semi-dynamic content, and cache-only for offline fallbacks

Lifecycle and Update Management

Service worker registration, installation, activation, and update flows with skip-waiting strategies, versioned caches, and user notification when new versions are available

Background Sync and Offline Queue

Background sync API implementation that queues failed network requests and replays them when connectivity returns, with conflict resolution for offline-created data

Our Service Worker Implementation Process

1

Resource Audit and Strategy Design

We catalog every resource your app requests: HTML pages, CSS bundles, JavaScript chunks, API endpoints, images, and fonts. We assign a caching strategy to each based on freshness requirements and access patterns.

2

Service Worker Development

We implement the service worker with Workbox or custom code depending on complexity. We configure precaching for critical assets, runtime caching for dynamic resources, and offline fallback pages for uncached routes.

3

Background Sync and Offline Queue

We implement background sync for offline data submission, conflict resolution for concurrent offline edits, and retry logic for failed requests. We test every offline workflow end-to-end.

4

Update Strategy and Testing

We configure service worker update flows with cache versioning, skip-waiting options, and user notification for major updates. We test across Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and Edge including iOS Safari's service worker behavior.

Key Benefits

Instant loading from local cache

The app shell and static assets are cached on first visit. Every subsequent visit loads from local storage in under 100ms regardless of network speed. Users on slow 3G connections get the same instant load as users on fiber.

Reliable offline access

Service workers intercept network requests and serve cached responses when the network is unavailable. Users in elevators, airplanes, subways, and rural areas continue using your app. Offline fallback pages handle uncached routes gracefully.

Background sync that never loses data

When users submit forms or create data while offline, the Background Sync API queues the requests. When connectivity returns, the service worker replays queued requests in order. No data is lost, no duplicate submissions occur.

Research & Evidence

Backed by industry research and proven results

Page Load and Conversion

A 1-second site converts at 3x the rate of a 5-second site, and service workers eliminate network latency on repeat visits by serving cached responses

Portent (2022)

PWA Impact Study

Progressive web apps with properly implemented service workers see 68% more mobile traffic and 15x faster load times

Google (2020)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between cache-first and network-first?

Cache-first serves from cache immediately and only fetches from network if the cache misses. Best for static assets that rarely change. Network-first tries the network and falls back to cache if it fails. Best for API data where freshness matters. Stale-while-revalidate serves from cache instantly then updates the cache from network in the background. Best for content that changes but where a slightly stale response is acceptable.

How do you handle service worker updates?

New service worker versions install in the background while the old version continues serving. On the next navigation or page reload, the new version activates. For breaking changes, we show a notification prompting users to reload. Cache versioning ensures old caches are cleaned up during activation.

Do service workers work on iOS?

Yes. iOS Safari supports service workers including caching, offline access, and background sync. The main difference is that iOS may clear service worker caches after a few weeks of inactivity. We handle this with re-caching strategies that repopulate caches when the app launches. Push notifications require iOS 16.4 or later.

How long does service worker implementation take?

Basic service worker with caching and offline fallback takes 1 to 2 weeks. A comprehensive implementation with background sync, push notifications, and multiple caching strategies takes 2 to 4 weeks. Adding service workers to an existing application with complex data requirements takes 3 to 5 weeks.

Make Your App Load Instantly and Work Offline

Share your application requirements. We will design the service worker strategy that makes your app fast on any connection and functional with no connection at all.