Web standards move fast. By using the Evergreen runtime, your application automatically gains support for the latest WebAssembly improvements, CSS Grid features, and JavaScript APIs as they roll out in Chromium. 4. Disk Space Efficiency
. It is the recommended mode for most developers because it offloads the responsibility of security updates and feature parity to Microsoft Microsoft Learn Key Benefits Automatic Updates
While "Evergreen" is the recommended approach, WebView2 offers two distribution modes: Evergreen Distribution Fixed Version Distribution Automatic (via Edge) Manual (by Developer) App Size Small (Shared Runtime) Large (Bundled Runtime) Security Rapid patching Developer dependent Compatibility Always latest Locked to specific version Best For General Applications Kiosks, Highly Regulated For 99% of use cases, Evergreen is the superior choice. Getting Started with Evergreen WebView2 evergreen webview2
Web standards evolve rapidly. Evergreen ensures your embedded web apps can safely use the latest JavaScript syntax, CSS layouts (like advanced Grid or subgrid features), and modern Web APIs without worrying about backward compatibility on older client machines. How Evergreen Updates Work Behind the Scenes
Before diving into the Evergreen specifics, it's essential to understand the WebView2 Runtime itself. The WebView2 Runtime is a redistributable runtime that serves as the underlying web platform for WebView2 apps, conceptually similar to how the Visual C++ or .NET Runtime functions for native Windows applications. Web standards move fast
Instead of packaging the entire browser engine with your installer, your application relies on a shared, automatically updated runtime managed by Microsoft. This runtime receives automatic updates—security patches, performance improvements, and new web API capabilities—without requiring you to release a new version of your application. Key Characteristics
The rapid evolution of web technologies has led to the development of innovative solutions for building modern web applications. One such solution is WebView2, a component that enables developers to embed web content within their applications. However, managing WebView2 instances can be challenging, especially when it comes to ensuring that the component remains up-to-date and secure. In this paper, we propose the concept of "Evergreen WebView2," a comprehensive approach to building modern web applications that leverages the power of WebView2 while ensuring its perpetual updating and security. Disk Space Efficiency
Integrating web tech into desktop apps used to mean dealing with outdated browsers and massive security holes. Microsoft changed this by introducing Microsoft Edge WebView2.
Your app assumes the latest runtime. If Microsoft pushes a breaking change (e.g., deprecating a Web API), your app might break before you can update. However, this is extremely rare in practice.
Total control over the exact rendering engine version, ensuring no unexpected UI breaking changes.