WebKit

WebKit is an open-source web browser engine developed by Apple Inc. and used in the Safari web browser. It is also utilized by other applications and devices, including the iOS operating system. WebKit is known for its performance, standards compliance, and support for modern web technologies.

History

WebKit was originally derived from the KHTML and KJS libraries from the KDE project. Apple forked these libraries to create WebKit in 2002. The first version of Safari using WebKit was released in 2003. Over time, WebKit has evolved significantly, incorporating numerous enhancements and optimizations.

Architecture

WebKit consists of several components:

• WebCore: The layout, rendering, and Document Object Model (DOM) library.
• JavaScriptCore: The JavaScript engine, also known as Nitro.
• WebKit2: A newer version of the WebKit API that supports a multi-process architecture for improved security and stability.

Features

WebKit supports a wide range of web standards, including:

• HTML5
• CSS3
• JavaScript
• DOM Level 3
• SVG
• WebGL

Usage

WebKit is used in various applications and platforms, including:

• Safari on macOS and iOS
• Mail on macOS
• App Store on iOS
• Adobe AIR
• BlackBerry Browser

Development and Contributions

WebKit is developed by a community of contributors, including Apple, Google, Nokia, and others. Google initially used WebKit for its Google Chrome browser before forking it to create the Blink engine in 2013.

See Also

• Blink (browser engine)
• Gecko (software)
• Trident (software)
• Presto (browser engine)