What Does Apple Push Notification Service Mean?
Apple Push Notification service (APNs) is a remote notification service that sends notifications and data to OS X- and iOS-powered devices. It is used to send third-party notifications over a secure connection. The service is delivered through an API that is integrated in all third-party iOS and Mac OS devices.
Techopedia Explains Apple Push Notification Service
APNs primarily provides app developers a simple, efficient and secure path to push app notifications to Apple devices. These notifications can include anything from sounds, text and badges. Typically, APNs works when a third-party app establishes a connection with a device and then transfers/sends data or notifications. The key advantage and objective behind APNs are its ability to save battery time, as conventional pull technologies often connect with a third-party provider for new updates, even if there is none available. However, with APNs, a device is notified only when there is a new notification or message.