Push notification

What is a push notification?

A push notification is a short message sent from a server to a user's device. It appears on the lock screen or in the notification bar, and tapping it opens the app on the right screen. Unlike an SMS, it goes to the device where the app is installed, not to a phone number.

Here is an everyday case. A customer orders in your app and puts the phone away. When the order ships, the phone shows "Your order is on its way". A tap opens the tracking screen. The customer does not call you or dig through email. The same route works for appointment reminders, payment confirmations or a product coming back in stock.

How does it work?

Your app does not send the message straight to the phone. Apple devices use the Apple Push Notification service (APNs), and Android usually uses Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM). Your server passes the message to these services and they deliver it to the right device. On iPhones and on Android 13 and later, nothing appears until the user allows notifications. Timing the request matters: asking at the moment a notification is clearly useful, rather than on first launch, gets more people to say yes.

Why does it matter?

Well-used notifications bring people back to the app. Too many, or irrelevant ones, make people switch them off or delete the app. We build notification systems in our mobile app development projects, and cover store rules in publishing an app to the stores.