What is Power Apps?

Power Apps provides a rapid application development environment to build custom apps for various business needs. It is a suite of applications, services, connectors, and a data platform (Microsoft Dataverse).

Power Apps allows users to build custom business apps and connect to various data sources like SharePoint, SQL Server, Excel, Dataverse, and more. It can be used to design responsive apps for web, mobile, and tablets. Power Apps empower professionals to collaborate and streamline business processes through app development.

Types of Power Apps

Microsoft PowerApps support three types of applications, such as:

Canvas Apps
Model-Driven Apps
Power Pages

1. Canvas Apps

Canvas Apps focus on design-driven development by starting with a blank canvas and drag-and-drop elements to design the app UI. It offers flexibility in layout, controls, logic and easily connects with various data sources like SharePoint, Dataverse, SQL, Excel, etc.

Use cases: Best for task-based and role-based apps like inspection forms, data entry apps, and mobile dashboards.

Example: An app to capture inventory updates, employee updates using SharePoint as a backend.

2. Model-Driven Apps

Model-driven apps ensure data-first design which can be built on top of Microsoft Dataverse. The UI is generated automatically based on the underlying data model. The layout and navigation are handled automatically. It is better suited for apps requiring complex business processes and rules.

Use cases: Ideal for scenarios like case management systems, customer relationship management (CRM), etc.

Example: A customer service app manages tickets and interactions with built-in business processes.

3. Power Pages

Power pages are external-facing websites which are designed to create web portals for users outside the organization. It ensures secure access by supporting authentication via Azure AD, Microsoft accounts, LinkedIn, or local login.

Power pages enable users to interact with Dataverse securely via a web interface.

Use cases: Useful for community portals, customer support pages, or registration systems.

PowerApps Licensing

The PowerApps licensing varies based on usage and requirements, such as:

Power Apps per App Plan
Power Apps per User Plan
Pay-as-you-go Plan

Power Apps per app plan is ideal for users who need limited access to apps and charged per user/app/month. It allows a user to run two apps and one portal.
Power Apps per User Plan provides access to unlimited apps and portals. It is best suited for power users or developers and charged per user/month.
Pay-as-you-go Plan: useful for organizations that want to pay based on actual usage which is billed through Azure subscription.

Power Apps Environment Setup

Setting up your Power Apps environment is essential as it is a space to store, manage, and share your organization’s business data, apps, and flows.

1. Creating an Environment Setup

Go to the Power Platform Admin Center.
Click on “Environments” > “+ New” to create a new environment.
Choose the environment type like Default, Sandbox, Production, or Trial.

2. Provisioning Dataverse and Setting Permissions

When setting up an environment, enable Microsoft Dataverse to store and manage data. Dataverse offers security, data types, business rules, and more.

Assign roles like Environment Admin, Maker, and User. Control who can build apps and access resources.

3. Connecting Data Sources

Add connectors for SharePoint, SQL, Excel, Dynamics 365, etc.
Use custom connectors for proprietary APIs.

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What is Power Apps?