When the application is downloaded using the application cache, we can invite the user to add an icon to the home screen or application’s menu. This will allow the user to open our webapp from a shortcut icon instead of typing the URL again. Even for a normal user, the idea of opening an offline application—one that can be used on a plane—through the browser after typing a URL is strange.

The user can add an icon even if there is no manifest. In that case, the icon will be just a shortcut to the online version of our webapp.