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<h2 id="history">History</h2> <p>PhoneGap was first developed by Nitobi Software at an iPhoneDevCamp event in <a href="/facts/San_Francisco/cb9l7hbC">San Francisco</a> in August 2008.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8"><sup>8</sup></a> Apple Inc. has confirmed that the framework has its approval, even with the change to clause 3.3.1 of the Apple iPhone SDK developer license agreement 4.0 adopted in 2010. The PhoneGap framework is used by several mobile application platforms such as Monaca, appMobi, Convertigo, ViziApps, and Worklight as the backbone of their mobile client development engine. </p><p>Adobe acquired Nitobi Software on October 3, 2011.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:9" href="#fn:9"><sup>9</sup></a> The PhoneGap code was subsequently contributed to the Apache Software Foundation to start a new project called Apache Cordova.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:10" href="#fn:10"><sup>10</sup></a> The project's original name, Apache Callback,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:11" href="#fn:11"><sup>11</sup></a> was viewed as too generic. It also appears in Adobe Systems as <i>Adobe PhoneGap</i> and also as <i>Adobe PhoneGap Build</i>. </p><p>Early versions of PhoneGap required an Apple computer to create iOS apps and a Windows computer to create Windows Mobile apps. After September 2012, Adobe's PhoneGap Build service allows programmers to upload CSS, HTML, and JavaScript source code to a "cloud compiler" that generates apps for every supported platform. This service was discontinued in 2020. </p> <h2 id="design-and-rationale">Design and rationale</h2> <p>The core of an Apache Cordova application uses <a href="/facts/CSS3/tA90XBQo">CSS3</a> and <a href="/facts/HTML5/HBAxEAr6">HTML5</a> for rendering and <a href="/facts/JavaScript/XhhIIEsl">JavaScript</a> for logic. HTML5 provides access to underlying hardware such as the accelerometer, camera, and <a href="/facts/GPS/DKVLnzF3">GPS</a>. However, browsers' support for HTML5-based device access is not consistent across mobile browsers, particularly older versions of Android. To overcome these limitations, Apache Cordova embeds the HTML5 code inside a native WebView on the device, using a <a href="/facts/Foreign_function_interface/ntAxkhK0">foreign function interface</a> to access the native resources of it.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:12" href="#fn:12"><sup>12</sup></a> </p><p>Apache Cordova can be extended with native plug-ins, allowing developers to add more functionalities that can be called from JavaScript, making it communicate directly between the native layer and the HTML5 page. These plugins allow access to the device's accelerometer, camera, compass, file system, microphone, and more. </p><p>However, the use of Web-based technologies leads some Apache Cordova applications to run slower than native applications with similar functionality.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:13" href="#fn:13"><sup>13</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="supported-platforms">Supported platforms</h2> <p>As of version 11, Apache Cordova currently supports development for the <a href="/facts/Operating_system/8XTuvMh2">operating systems</a> Apple <a href="/facts/IOS_(Apple)/mK5cggH5">iOS</a>, Google <a href="/facts/Android_(operating_system)/nNyHb0xz">Android</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_8.1/HRWIv7Mn">Windows 8.1</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_Phone_8.1/X1NgxYPn">Windows Phone 8.1</a>, <a href="/facts/Windows_10/be9IHehJ">Windows 10</a> and <a href="/facts/Electron_(software_framework)/15eHlAWQ">Electron (software framework)</a> (which in turn runs on <a href="/facts/Windows/bwhAhuSL">Windows</a>, <a href="/facts/Linux/9FvCKSTq">Linux</a> and <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a>).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:14" href="#fn:14"><sup>14</sup></a> Earlier version of Apache Cordova used to support <a href="/facts/Bada_(operating_system)/ABo74Jlz">Bada</a>, <a href="/facts/BlackBerry/k9LGPyg5">BlackBerry</a>, <a href="/facts/Firefox_OS/pBLG4suy">Firefox OS</a>,<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:15" href="#fn:15"><sup>15</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:16" href="#fn:16"><sup>16</sup></a> LG <a href="/facts/WebOS/lf3sPSeG">webOS</a>, Microsoft <a href="/facts/Windows_Phone/khEg0rGT">Windows Phone</a> (7 and 8), <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a>, Nokia <a href="/facts/Symbian/gbRl35V9">Symbian</a> OS, <a href="/facts/Tizen/gNrC0mnG">Tizen</a> (SDK 2.x), and <a href="/facts/Ubuntu_Touch/Wat4drUo">Ubuntu Touch</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:17" href="#fn:17"><sup>17</sup></a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:18" href="#fn:18"><sup>18</sup></a> </p> <h2 id="see-also">See also</h2> <ul> <li>Free and open-source software portal</li></ul> <ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_rich_web_application_frameworks/6SdIW8cN">List of rich web application frameworks</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Quasar_framework/dbEmt74s">Quasar Framework</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/RhoMobile_Suite/JuRB2PEu">RhoMobile Suite</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Cocos2d/XcdoCk2x">Cocos2d</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/WinJS/76BKAjyd">WinJS</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/NativeScript/DthzB7ds">NativeScript</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Xamarin/JEbH9UEP">Xamarin</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Flutter_(software)/aI365dAp">Flutter</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Titanium_SDK/2Rx7xh5j">Titanium SDK</a></li> <li><a href="/facts/Appery.io/wDjSKSao">Appery.io</a></li></ul> <h2 id="bibliography">Bibliography</h2> <ul><li>Pelletier, Jeff (April 25, 2013). <a href="http://mobileappmanual.com"><i>Mobile App Manual: The Blueprint</i></a> (1st ed.). Withinsight Publishing. p. 96. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0989072106.</li> <li>Shotts, Kerri (February 26, 2013). <a href="http://www.packtpub.com/phonegap-2-mobile-application-hotshot/book"><i>PhoneGap 2.x Mobile Application Development Hotshot</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/Packt_Publishing/eT0RTSSK">Packt Publishing</a>. p. 388. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1849519403.</li> <li>Gifford, Matt (October 22, 2012). <a href="http://www.packtpub.com/phonegap-mobile-application-development-cookbook/book"><i>PhoneGap Mobile Application Development Cookbook</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/Packt_Publishing/eT0RTSSK">Packt Publishing</a>. p. 320. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1849518581.</li> <li>M. Wargo, John (June 11, 2012). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150403035313/http://phonegapessentials.com/"><i>PhoneGap Essentials: Building Cross-Platform Mobile Apps</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/Addison-Wesley_Professional/A7UFATEG">Addison-Wesley Professional</a>. p. 384. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-0321814296. Archived from <a href="http://phonegapessentials.com/">the original</a> on April 3, 2015. Retrieved June 29, 2012.</li> <li>Munro, Jamie (March 29, 2012). <a href="http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920023708.do"><i>20 Recipes for Programming PhoneGap: Cross-Platform Mobile Development for Android and iPhone</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/O%2527Reilly_Media/Fr3Kv7sm">O'Reilly Media</a>. p. 76. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-4493-1954-0.</li> <li>Marinacci, Joshua (March 21, 2012). <a href="http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0636920021063.do"><i>Building Mobile Applications with Java: Using the Google Web Toolkit and PhoneGap</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/O%2527Reilly_Media/Fr3Kv7sm">O'Reilly Media</a>. p. 86. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-4493-0823-0.</li> <li>Lunny, Andrew (September 23, 2011). <a href="http://www.packtpub.com/phonegap-beginners-guide/book"><i>PhoneGap Beginner's Guide</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/Packt_Publishing/eT0RTSSK">Packt Publishing</a>. p. 328. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-84951-536-8.</li> <li>Ghatol, Rohit (November 14, 2011). <a href="http://www.apress.com/9781430239031"><i>Beginning PhoneGap: Mobile Web Framework for JavaScript and HTML5</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/Apress/pxdyEeD3">Apress</a>. p. 700. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-4302-3903-1.</li> <li>Myer, Thomas (December 13, 2011). <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150604011319/http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111815665X.html"><i>Beginning PhoneGap</i></a> (1st ed.). <a href="/facts/Wrox_Press/4pfQvkJF">Wrox</a>. p. 336. <a href="/facts/ISBN_(identifier)/15AdSPa9">ISBN</a> 978-1-118-15665-0. Archived from <a href="http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111815665X.html">the original</a> on June 4, 2015. Retrieved October 10, 2011.</li></ul> <h2 id="external-links">External links</h2> The Wikibook <i>Android</i> has a page on the topic of: <i>PhoneGap</i> <ul><li><a href="https://cordova.apache.org">Official website</a> </li> <li><a href="https://sdk.docutain.com/blogartikel/how-to-create-a-cordova-plugin-from-scratch">How to create a Cordova Plugin from Scratch</a></li></ul> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>"Adobe Announces Agreement to Acquire Nitobi, Creator of PhoneGap". Adobe.com. 2011-10-03. Archived from the original on 2012-04-13. Retrieved 2012-04-07. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20120413181632/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201110/AdobeAcquiresNitobi.html" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20120413181632/http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/201110/AdobeAcquiresNitobi.html</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Jose Fermoso (April 5, 2009). "PhoneGap Seeks to Bridge the Gap Between Mobile App Platforms". GigaOM. Archived from the original on 2009-04-08. Retrieved 2012-04-07. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20090408054440/http://gigaom.com/2009/04/05/phonegap-seeks-to-bridge-the-gap-between-mobile-app-platforms/" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20090408054440/http://gigaom.com/2009/04/05/phonegap-seeks-to-bridge-the-gap-between-mobile-app-platforms/</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Community, Tiki. "Apache Callback - Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware :: Development". Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware :: Development. Archived from the original on 4 April 2018. Retrieved 3 April 2018. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073221/https://dev.tiki.org/Apache+Callback" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20180404073221/https://dev.tiki.org/Apache+Callback</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:4"><p>"Apache Callback Proposal". Wiki.phonegap.com. 2013-08-15. Archived from the original on 2011-10-05. Retrieved 2013-10-09. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20111005154822/http://wiki.phonegap.com/w/page/46311152/apache-callback-proposal" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20111005154822/http://wiki.phonegap.com/w/page/46311152/apache-callback-proposal</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:5"><p>"The Last Word on Cordova and PhoneGap". The Official Ionic Blog. 6 March 2014. <a href="http://blog.ionic.io/what-is-cordova-phonegap/" target="_blank">http://blog.ionic.io/what-is-cordova-phonegap/</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:6"><p>"Apache Cordova". Apache Cordova. <a href="https://cordova.apache.org/" target="_blank">https://cordova.apache.org/</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:7"><p>"Cordova Contributor's Who's Who". apache.org. 2015-11-02. Archived from the original on 2015-07-16. Retrieved 2015-11-02. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20150716065106/http://wiki.apache.org/cordova/who" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20150716065106/http://wiki.apache.org/cordova/who</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:8"><p>Myer, Thomas (2011-11-11). Beginning PhoneGap. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-23932-2. <a href="978-1-118-23932-2" target="_blank">978-1-118-23932-2</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:9"><p>Rao, Leena (2011-10-03). "Adobe Acquires Developer Of HTML5 Mobile App Framework PhoneGap Nitobi". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-07-20. <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/03/adobe-acquires-developer-of-html5-mobile-app-framework-phonegap-nitobi/" target="_blank">https://techcrunch.com/2011/10/03/adobe-acquires-developer-of-html5-mobile-app-framework-phonegap-nitobi/</a> <a href="#fnref:9" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:10"><p>Finley, Klint (2012-09-24). "Adobe Launches Hosted PhoneGap Build Service For Creating Cross-Platform Mobile Apps". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2023-07-20. <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/24/adobe-launches-hosted-phonegap-build-service-for-creating-cross-platform-mobile-apps/" target="_blank">https://techcrunch.com/2012/09/24/adobe-launches-hosted-phonegap-build-service-for-creating-cross-platform-mobile-apps/</a> <a href="#fnref:10" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:11"><p>Wargo, John M. (2015-03-26). Apache Cordova 4 Programming. Addison-Wesley Professional. ISBN 978-0-13-404827-7. <a href="978-0-13-404827-7" target="_blank">978-0-13-404827-7</a> <a href="#fnref:11" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:12"><p>"The Development of Mobile Applications using HTML5 and PhoneGap on Intel Architecture-Based Platforms". 2012-06-22. Retrieved 2013-02-17. However, HTML5 has some limitations. Most prominent is the lack of API to access device hardware and sensors such as accelerometer, compass, GPS, etc. While native applications can access device hardware, they lack the portability that Web apps provide. Thus, a solution is to code a hybrid application, which cumulatively uses the benefits of native and Web apps. <a href="http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/the-development-of-mobile-applications-using-html5-and-phonegap-on-intel-architecture-based" target="_blank">http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/the-development-of-mobile-applications-using-html5-and-phonegap-on-intel-architecture-based</a> <a href="#fnref:12" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:13"><p>Sapan Diwakar (2012-06-21). "Titanium vs Phonegap vs Native application development". Retrieved 2013-02-17. <a href="http://www.sapandiwakar.in/api-research-study-iphone-and-android-applications/" target="_blank">http://www.sapandiwakar.in/api-research-study-iphone-and-android-applications/</a> <a href="#fnref:13" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:14"><p>"Cordova support by platform - Apache Cordova". cordova.apache.org. Retrieved 2023-07-28. <a href="https://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/11.x/guide/support/" target="_blank">https://cordova.apache.org/docs/en/11.x/guide/support/</a> <a href="#fnref:14" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:15"><p>"Building Cordova apps for Firefox OS ✩ Mozilla Hacks – the Web developer blog". 20 February 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2014. <a href="https://hacks.mozilla.org/2014/02/building-cordova-apps-for-firefox-os/" target="_blank">https://hacks.mozilla.org/2014/02/building-cordova-apps-for-firefox-os/</a> <a href="#fnref:15" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:16"><p>"Using PhoneGap and the Sony Ericsson WebSDK to develop Android apps". Android and Me. Retrieved 2012-04-07. <a href="http://androidandme.com/2009/12/news/using-phonegap-and-the-sony-ericsson-websdk-to-develop-android-apps/" target="_blank">http://androidandme.com/2009/12/news/using-phonegap-and-the-sony-ericsson-websdk-to-develop-android-apps/</a> <a href="#fnref:16" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:17"><p>"Platform Support". Adobe PhoneGap. Archived from the original on 2013-10-26. Retrieved 2016-02-23. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20131026103119/http://docs.phonegap.com/en/edge/guide_support_index.md.html#Platform%20Support" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20131026103119/http://docs.phonegap.com/en/edge/guide_support_index.md.html#Platform%20Support</a> <a href="#fnref:17" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:18"><p>"PhoneGap supported features". Phonegap.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2013-10-09. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20110622040816/http://www.phonegap.com/about/feature" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20110622040816/http://www.phonegap.com/about/feature</a> <a href="#fnref:18" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>