Skip to main content

Introduction

Last updated 10/04/2026

Progressive Web Application​

A Progressive Web Application (PWA) is a web application that delivers an app-like experience directly through a browser. Unlike traditional web apps, a PWA can be installed on a user's device, work offline or in low-connectivity environments, and provide a fast, responsive user experience similar to a native mobile or desktop application.

In Five, PWAs allow applications built on the platform to extend beyond the browser and function reliably in real-world scenarios where connectivity may be inconsistent. This makes them especially valuable for field-based workflows, remote data entry, and operational environments where uptime and performance are critical.

Five provides a set of client-side offline APIs that power this capability. These functions:

  • Can be written directly within one of Five's code editors
  • Can also be implemented within an external plugin
  • Are strictly client-side and cannot be executed on the backend/server

Important Behavior​

While these functions can be referenced inside Five's events and processes, Five itself does not operate offline.

Offline capability is only available within a PWA context, not within the standard Five runtime.

As a result, custom actions (client-side execution) are the only place where these functions will run offline successfully.

Server-side logic will always require connectivity and cannot access offline storage.

Summary​

The offline functionality provided by Five is entirely dependent on running the application as a PWA, where client-side execution enables local data storage and retrieval regardless of network availability.