Took its sweet time, but WebView 2 is now generally available for developers to use in their apps. They can use this technology to embed web content in their desktop UWP applications.
Microsoft shared the news, revealing that PowerApps is the first of the WinUI 2 app to have WebView 2 built-in. This is a project that allows customers to build applications for popular platforms and create user interfaces using drag-and-drop elements.
You can learn more about Microsoft PowerApps on its official website.
Getting back to WebView 2, this technology is different from its predecessor in that unlike the original WebView that was based on EdgeHTML, this one is powered by Chromium. Makes sense, because EdgeHTML was the rendering engine that ran things on the original Edge before its engine upgrade.
Replacing the legacy WebView with this Chromium based variant not only provides better compatibility, but also enhances sustainability, support, and adds in modern features.
And since WebView 2 is part of both Windows 11 and Windows 10, developers using the technology can provide their users with lighter apps.
Finally, what’s even better for this new control is that it supports older versions of Windows, allowing developers to reach more users. Redmond confirms that developers can build apps using WebView 2 for Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11.
Developers that want to embed WebView 2 into their WinUI apps can take a look at the handy little Getting Started guide that Microsoft has made available in the official documentation.
