Capacitor Cross-Platform Runtime

Capacitor is an open source cross-platform native runtime that lets developers build iOS, Android, and Progressive Web Apps using standard web technologies including JavaScript, HTML, and CSS. Rather than requiring a specialized framework, it drops into any existing web project with a simple npm install, then adds native platform targets through dedicated iOS and Android packages. The runtime bridges web code to native device capabilities through a plugin architecture, giving applications access to the camera, geolocation, local notifications, file system, haptics, and dozens of other native APIs without leaving the JavaScript layer. Developers can migrate existing Cordova projects directly, preserving their plugin investments and switching to a modern build pipeline. The tool integrates with popular frontend frameworks like React, Vue, Angular, and Svelte, allowing teams to write one codebase and deploy to app stores and the web simultaneously. Native projects are generated as standard Xcode and Android Studio workspaces, giving developers full control over native configuration, entitlements, and custom Swift or Kotlin code when needed. The ecosystem includes community and official plugins, a CLI for managing platform builds, live reload during development, and seamless PWA support so the same app runs in a browser with progressive enhancement. Created by the Ionic team, the project has gained wide adoption among organizations wanting web-first mobile development without sacrificing access to native device features.