Categories
The categories property helps app stores, browsers, and platforms classify your PWA, making it easier for users to discover your application. It's a list of keywords that describe what your application does.
Purpose
Categories help with:
App discovery: Users browsing by category find your app
Search relevance: Improves searchability in app stores
Store organization: Platforms group similar apps together
User expectations: Sets correct expectations about functionality
Recommendations: Powers "similar apps" suggestions
Configuration
pwa:
manifest:
enabled: true
categories: ['productivity', 'business']Standard Categories
Business & Productivity
business
CRM systems
Project management
Business analytics
Invoice management
productivity
Task managers
Note-taking apps
Time tracking
Calendar applications
finance
Banking apps
Expense trackers
Investment platforms
Cryptocurrency wallets
developer / developer tools
Code editors
API clients
DevOps dashboards
Documentation browsers
Media & Entertainment
music
Streaming services
Music players
Podcast apps
Audio editors
video
Video streaming
Video editors
YouTube clients
Video conferencing
photo / photo & video
Photo editors
Image galleries
Camera apps
Photo sharing platforms
games
All types of games
Game launchers
Gaming platforms
entertainment
Streaming services
Media centers
Fun utilities
Novelty apps
Social & Communication
social / social networking
Social media platforms
Community forums
Messaging apps
Social discovery
dating
Dating apps
Matchmaking platforms
Relationship services
network / networking
Professional networking
Business connections
Conference apps
Lifestyle & Health
health / health & fitness
Fitness trackers
Workout apps
Health monitoring
Wellness platforms
fitness
Gym workout apps
Running trackers
Yoga and meditation
Exercise planners
food
Recipe apps
Meal planners
Nutrition trackers
Restaurant finders
lifestyle
General lifestyle apps
Habit trackers
Personal development
Life organization
medical
Medical records
Symptom checkers
Telemedicine
Medical reference
Content & Learning
books / books & reference
E-book readers
Library apps
Literary platforms
Reading trackers
education
Learning platforms
Online courses
Educational games
Study tools
news
News aggregators
Newspapers
RSS readers
Breaking news alerts
magazines
Magazine readers
Periodical apps
Article collections
reference
Dictionaries
Encyclopedias
Lookup tools
Information databases
Specialized
travel
Trip planners
Hotel booking
Flight tracking
Travel guides
navigation
Maps
GPS navigation
Transit apps
Location services
shopping
E-commerce
Price comparison
Shopping lists
Marketplace apps
sports
Sports news
Live scores
Fantasy sports
Team management
weather
Weather forecasts
Weather alerts
Climate data
Weather radar
utilities
General utilities
Calculators
Converters
System tools
Creative & Design
design
Design tools
Mockup creators
UI/UX tools
graphics / graphics & design
Graphic design
Vector editors
Image manipulation
multimedia / multimedia design
Multi-media creation
Audio/video editing
Content production
Specialized Audiences
kids
Child-appropriate content
Educational games for children
Parental controls included
parenting
Parenting tips
Baby trackers
Family organization
Child development tools
pets
Pet care
Vet finders
Pet health trackers
Animal adoption
Other
beauty
Makeup tutorials
Beauty tips
Product reviews
Style guides
cars / transportation
Car maintenance
Vehicle tracking
Ride sharing
Public transit
fashion
Style guides
Fashion shopping
Outfit planning
Trend tracking
events
Event planning
Ticket booking
Event discovery
Calendar integration
fundraising
Donation platforms
Crowdfunding
Charity apps
government
Government services
Civic engagement
Public records
Official portals
personalization
Customization tools
Themes
Wallpapers
Launchers
politics
Political news
Campaign information
Voting resources
Political engagement
security
Password managers
VPN clients
Security tools
Privacy apps
Choosing the Right Categories
Single Primary Category
For highly focused apps:
categories: ['fitness'] # Workout tracking app
categories: ['music'] # Music streaming service
categories: ['games'] # Gaming platformMultiple Related Categories
For apps spanning related areas:
# Health and fitness tracker
categories: ['health & fitness', 'lifestyle']
# Business collaboration tool
categories: ['productivity', 'business']
# Recipe and meal planner
categories: ['food', 'lifestyle']
# Photo editor and social sharing
categories: ['photo & video', 'social']Avoid Over-Categorization
# ✗ Too many - dilutes focus
categories: ['productivity', 'business', 'utilities', 'lifestyle', 'social']
# ✓ Focused - clear purpose
categories: ['productivity', 'business']Practical Examples
E-commerce App
pwa:
manifest:
name: "ShopEasy"
description: "Shop online with great deals."
categories: ['shopping']Fitness Tracker
pwa:
manifest:
name: "FitTrack"
description: "Track workouts and reach fitness goals."
categories: ['health & fitness', 'sports']Task Manager
pwa:
manifest:
name: "TaskMaster"
description: "Organize tasks and boost productivity."
categories: ['productivity', 'business']News Reader
pwa:
manifest:
name: "NewsHub"
description: "Stay updated with breaking news."
categories: ['news']Recipe App
pwa:
manifest:
name: "CookBook"
description: "Discover and save delicious recipes."
categories: ['food', 'lifestyle']Social Network
pwa:
manifest:
name: "ConnectApp"
description: "Connect with friends and family."
categories: ['social networking', 'social']Music Streaming
pwa:
manifest:
name: "MusicStream"
description: "Stream millions of songs."
categories: ['music', 'entertainment']Weather App
pwa:
manifest:
name: "WeatherNow"
description: "Accurate weather forecasts."
categories: ['weather', 'utilities']Developer Tools
pwa:
manifest:
name: "APITester"
description: "Test and debug APIs easily."
categories: ['developer tools', 'productivity']Educational Platform
pwa:
manifest:
name: "LearnHub"
description: "Interactive courses and tutorials."
categories: ['education', 'books & reference']Platform-Specific Behavior
Google Play Store
Uses categories as hints
May map to Play Store categories
Helps with search and discovery
Not guaranteed to match exactly
Microsoft Store
Supports PWA categories
Maps to Windows Store categories
Influences app placement
Used in search algorithms
App Stores in Browsers
Chrome Web Store considers categories
Edge Add-ons uses categories
Other browser stores may vary
General Web
May be ignored by some platforms
Still useful for:
PWA directories
Third-party catalogs
Search engine optimization
Documentation/metadata
Best Practices
1. Be Specific
# ✗ Too generic
categories: ['utilities', 'productivity']
# ✓ Specific
categories: ['task management', 'productivity']2. Primary Category First
# ✓ Most important category first
categories: ['health & fitness', 'lifestyle']3. Limit to 2-3 Categories
# ✓ Focused
categories: ['finance', 'business']
# ✗ Too many
categories: ['finance', 'business', 'productivity', 'utilities', 'social']4. Use Standard Categories
# ✓ Standard category
categories: ['productivity']
# ✗ Non-standard (may not be recognized)
categories: ['task-management-tools']5. Match Your App's Purpose
Ensure categories align with your app's actual functionality:
# For a photo editing app
categories: ['photo & video', 'graphics'] # ✓ Accurate
# Not appropriate if your app doesn't do this
categories: ['games'] # ✗ MisleadingCommon Mistakes
1. Using Too Many Categories
# ✗ Excessive
pwa:
manifest:
categories: ['productivity', 'business', 'utilities', 'tools', 'lifestyle', 'organization']Impact: Dilutes app's focus, may be ignored by platforms
Fix:
# ✓ Focused
pwa:
manifest:
categories: ['productivity', 'business']2. Mixing Specific and General
# ✗ Inconsistent specificity
categories: ['health & fitness', 'apps', 'mobile']Fix:
# ✓ Consistent level
categories: ['health & fitness', 'lifestyle']3. Using Non-Standard Names
# ✗ Custom categories not recognized
categories: ['super-productivity-tools', 'amazing-apps']Fix:
# ✓ Standard categories
categories: ['productivity', 'business']4. Wrong Capitalization
# ✗ Mixed case (inconsistent)
categories: ['Productivity', 'BUSINESS', 'health & Fitness']Fix:
# ✓ Lowercase (standard)
categories: ['productivity', 'business', 'health & fitness']5. Mismatched Categories
# ✗ Categories don't match app purpose
pwa:
manifest:
name: "MusicPlayer"
description: "Stream your favorite music"
categories: ['games', 'sports'] # Wrong!Fix:
# ✓ Appropriate categories
pwa:
manifest:
name: "MusicPlayer"
description: "Stream your favorite music"
categories: ['music', 'entertainment']Testing Categories
1. Validate in Manifest
// Check categories in your manifest
fetch('/manifest.json')
.then(r => r.json())
.then(manifest => {
console.log('Categories:', manifest.categories);
// Validate
if (!manifest.categories || manifest.categories.length === 0) {
console.warn('No categories specified');
} else if (manifest.categories.length > 3) {
console.warn('Too many categories - consider reducing to 2-3');
}
});2. Check in DevTools
1. Open DevTools (F12)
2. Go to Application → Manifest
3. Check "categories" array
4. Verify categories are lowercase3. Test Discovery
Search for your app in stores by category
Verify it appears in expected sections
Check if similar apps are in same categories
Test on multiple platforms (Play Store, Microsoft Store)
Category Selection Checklist
Before finalizing categories:
SEO and Discovery Impact
Categories affect:
Store Search: Apps appear in category searches
Browse Discovery: Users browsing categories find your app
Similar Apps: Powers "you might also like" features
Filtering: Enables category-based filtering
Rankings: May influence category-specific rankings
Related Properties
Description - Describes app functionality
IARC Rating - Age and content rating
Name - App identification
Summary
Category selection best practices:
✓ Choose 1-3 most relevant standard categories
✓ Put primary category first
✓ Use lowercase for consistency
✓ Match categories to actual functionality
✓ Use specific categories when possible
✓ Check against standard category list
✗ Don't use more than 3 categories
✗ Don't make up custom categories
✗ Don't use misleading categories
✗ Don't forget to test on actual platforms
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