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Definition: A push notification is an automated message that is sent to the user by the server of the app that's working in the background (i.e., not open.) Another way to describe it is a push notification is a message that's displayed outside of the app.
Apple does not offer a way to handle a notification that arrives when your app is closed (i.e. when the user has fully quit the application or the OS had decided to kill it while it is in the background). If this happens, the only way to handle the notification is to wait until it is opened by the user.
APNS is based on Apple Servers, and Apple doesn't give any guarantee on successful message delivery. If the app is open (i.e. the user is using the app) while the notification arrives, iOS doesn't show a notification message, you need to handle it. Notification shows up only when the app is backgrounded or killed.
Automated push notifications are single web push notifications or a series of push notifications that keep working in the background. Automated notifications work without any manual action on your part. That's the point: They're completely automated. Set 'em and forget 'em!
Each device can be updated with data using their own unique device tokens. This picture explains everything . .
It was too much for me to put in a comment so.
From the documentation.
Apple Push Notification service (APNs) propagates push notifications to devices having applications registered to receive those notifications. Each device establishes an accredited and encrypted IP connection with the service and receives notifications over this persistent connection. Providers connect with APNs through a persistent and secure channel while monitoring incoming data intended for their client applications. When new data for an application arrives, the provider prepares and sends a notification through the channel to APNs, which pushes the notification to the target device..
I suggest reading the documentation for more information and how to use and configure. It's all there.
Push Notifications
I created an infographic to explain the workflow of push notifications. Hope this is helpful.
Device does not keep polling the server for the push notifications.
To keep it simple, consider an iPhone is connected to internet. On connecting to internet iPhone establishes connection to Apple Push Notifications server this connection is open connection which means data can be thrown to iPhone from server the moment data arrives to server.
Apple does not use HTTP protocol for Push notifications but if you understand HTTP Protocol its almost a similar methodology.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push_technology#HTTP_server_push
There is a really nice exaplanation of push notifications in this article.
In iOS, apps can’t do a lot in the background. Apps are only allowed to do limited set of activities so battery life is conserved.
But what if something interesting happens and you wish to let the user know about this, even if they’re not currently using your app?
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