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Web Install API

Category
Capabilities (Fugu)
Type
New or changed feature
Status
In development (Chrome In development)
Intent stage
None

Summary

Allows a website to install a web app. The API provides 3 signatures, with 0, 1, and 2 parameters, respectively. When invoked, the website installs either itself, or another site from a different origin, as a web app (depending on the provided parameters). All 3 signatures will be experimented with in parallel. *Terminology - A site installing itself is a "current document install". A site installing another site is a "background document install".

Motivation

The web is currently unable to install web apps. The capability must be baked into the platform to allow for websites to distribute content without relying on proprietary protocols or invoking platform specific stores. Web Install democratizes application distribution and allows developers to broaden the reach of their content.

Standards & signals

Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/12nSXJLm8mW0gWZ_yjlXfrV8r9gwJliVt4WVa-209-KA/edit?tab=t.0

Samples: https://kbhlee2121.github.io/pwa/web-install/index.html https://microsoftedge.github.io/Demos/pwa-pwastore

Explainers: https://aka.ms/webinstall

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