Webview2 - Evergreen
Given that the Evergreen runtime is updated automatically, it is crucial to regularly test your application against the preview builds of Microsoft Edge (Beta, Dev, and Canary channels). These channels allow you to test your WebView2 app against upcoming features and platform changes before they are released into the production Evergreen runtime, ensuring a smooth user experience.
Microsoft takes the Chromium-based Edge browser's core components, fine-tunes them, and tests them specifically for use within WebView2 apps to create the Runtime. After the WebView2 Runtime is installed, it does not appear as a user-visible browser app—there is no desktop shortcut or Start menu entry for it. It is a dedicated background web platform that powers applications seamlessly and invisibly. evergreen webview2
// MainWindow.xaml.cs public async void InitializeWebView() Given that the Evergreen runtime is updated automatically,
This pattern ensures that your application remains up-to-date with the latest security fixes and web platform features. After the WebView2 Runtime is installed, it does
As sustainability becomes a key metric in software procurement, the Evergreen model is not just convenient—it is responsible.
This preinstallation has profound implications. Applications can rely on a shared, continuously updated web engine rather than bundling their own, significantly reducing initial download sizes and installation complexity. As one industry analysis noted, "Shipping an evergreen WebView2 runtime preinstalled on Windows 11 simplifies developer choices and reduces fragmentation".
The benefits of using Evergreen WebView2 are numerous, and they can be summarized as follows: