The Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) is an open source framework for embedding a web browser engine based on the Chromium core. It is a convenient way to add web browser control and implement an HTML5-based layout GUI in a desktop application or to provide web browser capabilities to a software application or game, and provides the infrastructure developers need to quickly add HTML rendering and JavaScript to a C++ project. It also comes with bindings for C, C++, Delphi, Go, Java, .NET / Mono, and Python and runs on Linux, Mac OS X and Windows.
There are two versions of Chromium Embedded Framework: CEF 1 and CEF 3. Development of CEF 2 was abandoned after the appearance of the Chromium Content API.
CEF 1 is a single-process implementation based on the Chromium WebKit API. It is no longer actively developed or supported.
CEF 3 is a multi-process implementation based on the Chromium Content API and has performance similar to Google Chrome. It uses asynchronous messaging to communicate between the main application process and one or more render processes (Blink + V8 JavaScript engine). It supports PPAPI plugins and extensions, both internal (PDF viewer) or externally loadable. The single-process run mode is not supported, but still present; currently is being used for debugging purposes only.
CEF comes with a sample application called CefClient that is written in C++ using WinApi, Cocoa, or GTK (depending on the platform) and contains demos of various features. Newer versions include a sample application called CefSimple that, along with an accompanying tutorial, show how to create a simple application using CEF 3.
Documentation can be found in the header files located in the "include" directory and on wiki pages.
Adobe Web Engine Team maintains development and stable branches builds for Linux (in 32- and 64-bit forms), Mac and Windows.
The base CEF framework includes support for the C and C++ programming languages, but there are external projects that provide bindings for other languages:
Delphi (CEF1) – DCEF 1Delphi (CEF3) – DCEF 3Delphi (CEF3) – CEF4DelphiFree Pascal (CEF3) - fpCEF3Go (CEF3) – CEF2goJava (CEF3) – Java Chromium Embedded.NET (CEF1, CEF3) – CefSharp.NET (CEF1) – CefGlue.NET/Mono (CEF3) – Xilium.CefGlue.NET (CEF3) – ChromiumFXPython (CEF1, CEF3) – CEF PythonSwift (CEF3) – CEF.swiftAdobe Creative CloudAdobe Dreamweaver - Dreamweaver is a web development tool which uses CEF to control resource loading, navigation and context menus Adobe Edge Animate – multimedia authoring tool'sAdobe Edge Reflow – responsive web design toolAlpha Anywhere – web application development toolAmazon Music – media player for PC and MacNullstack Analytics – desktop fork of a web analytics engineAOL Desktop - web browser with integrated AOL email and IM clientsAOL Instant Messenger – instant messaging client that uses CEF on WindowsAppJS – build desktop applications using Node.jsBattle.net Client –BioEra.net – biofeedback softwareBirdFont – font editorAdobe Brackets – open source code editor for the webBriskBard – Web browser with an email client, a media player, a news aggregator, an FTP client, an IRC client, a newsgroups reader, a contact manager and web developer tools.Chromium Tab – another Chromium inside Chrome Chromium Tab extensionCubiez – integrates content into the desktopDesura – online game platformDish World IPTV – streaming video platformEve Launcher – launcher for Eve Online on Mac OS X, beta launcher on WindowsEvernote – notetaking softwareDingtalk – Free communication and collaboration platform used by millions of enterprises or organizationExeOutput – allows deploying HTML5/PHP applications as desktop applicationsExpanDrive – network file system clientFacebook Messenger for WindowsFoxmail - freeware email client by TencentFree Download Manager 5.0 Alpha – free downloads manager (alpha version)GitHub for Windows – GitHub client software for WindowsGOG Galaxy - optional game client for GOG.comGoogle Web Designer – create interactive HTML5 sites and adsGTA:Network - GTA V multiplayer modificationInky – smart email appIntel AppUp Encapsulator – Intel app store softwareJanetter – Twitter client softwareJMS4 – a program for joinery companiesKaspersky Security Scan – Scanner from Kaspersky LabKey4Two – hardware-level secured sharing networkLeague of Legends - In game clientMacaw Web Editor – commercial WYSIWYG editor used for web developmentMailbird – Windows email softwaremChef – mIRC browser pluginMediaMan – organizer softwareMEO Music – streaming music application MetaVR – geographic simulation softwareMinecraft – launcher for the gameMTG Studio – Magic the Gathering deck editor and collection builder softwareMulti Theft Auto – multiplayer engine for PC game Grand Theft Auto: San AndreasOpenSpace3D – 3D development platformPHP Desktop – develop desktop applications using PHP, HTML 5, Javascript and SQLitePokerStars – online poker cardroomQobuz Desktop – HD download and streaming music platformQuantel Webtools – allows third party web applications to appear within Quantel editorsQlik Sense – Self Service BI and Analytics platformRdio – streaming music platformRPG Maker MV – a role-playing game development program suiteSavvius Vigil – Enabling network forensics in breach investigationsSecond Life – online virtual worldSling TV – IPTV service operated by Dish Network.Spotify – streaming music platformStarUML – UML model editorSteam Client – an online game platformTelebreeze player – multiplatform streaming video playerTencent QQ – instant messaging program (its QPlus part) and web browserTOWeb – responsive website creation softwareTrend Micro – internet security softwareUBot Studio – internet marketing and web automation softwareUnity3D – game engineUnreal Engine - game engineUplay – an online game platformWBEA Desktop – deploys HTML5 applications as desktop applicationsyasoon – app store & platform for Microsoft Outlookstonehearth – a game GUIemWERK Platform – self-service kiosk softwareLeague of Legends Game ClientClimax Editor clientFuze FuzeLeague Alpha Client - Client server League of legends new server [1]
