Push Notification
Definition
Cloud messaging delivering real-time alerts to mobile devices or browsers even when the app is closed — FCM, APNs, and SNS handle fan-out at scale.
Use Cases
- Pinterest: Re-engage users with personalized recommendations and activity alerts (e.g., new pins, board activity, and content suggestions). — Uses push notifications to deliver timely updates to mobile devices; notifications are triggered by user activity and recommendation systems and sent through platform push services (iOS APNs and Android push via Google’s infrastructure). (Improves user re-engagement by bringing users back into the app with timely, relevant prompts.)
- Uber: Real-time ride status updates such as driver assignment, arrival ETA, trip start, and trip completion. — Event-driven backend triggers push notifications to riders and drivers; messages are routed through mobile push channels (APNs for iOS and Android push services) with fallback to in-app messaging where appropriate. (Reduces uncertainty and support inquiries by keeping users informed in real time during critical trip moments.)
- DoorDash: Order lifecycle updates like order confirmed, picked up, approaching, and delivered. — Backend order events generate notifications that are delivered to customers’ devices using mobile push services; payloads are tailored per platform and may include deep links into order tracking screens. (Enhances customer experience and trust by providing timely delivery visibility, helping reduce “where is my order?” contacts.)
Provider Equivalents
- AWS: Amazon Simple Notification Service (Amazon SNS)
- Azure: Azure Notification Hubs
- GCP: Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM)
- OCI: OCI Notifications
Frequently Asked Questions
- What's the difference between push notifications and SMS?
- Push notifications are delivered through an app (or browser) using platform push services (like APNs on iOS or FCM on Android). SMS is sent through the phone network to a phone number. Push usually requires the user to have your app installed (or opt in on web), can be richer (deep links, images on supported platforms), and is often cheaper at scale, while SMS can reach users without your app but typically costs more per message and has stricter telecom rules.
- When should I use push notifications?
- Use push notifications when you need timely, user-visible updates and the user has opted in—examples include delivery/ride status, account security alerts, reminders, and personalized content updates. Avoid using push for high-volume marketing blasts or non-urgent messages; too many notifications can cause opt-outs or app uninstalls. If the message is critical and must reach the user even without your app, consider adding SMS or email as a backup channel.
- How much do push notifications cost?
- Costs depend on the service and your architecture. Platform delivery (APNs for iOS and FCM for Android) is generally not billed per message by Apple/Google, but your cloud provider may charge for the messaging service (e.g., publish requests, throughput, or advanced features), plus any supporting costs like serverless functions, APIs, databases, and analytics. Pricing factors include number of notifications sent, payload size, use of topics/segments, delivery retries, and any multi-region or high-availability setup.
Category: cloud
Difficulty: basic
Related Terms
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