WebContainer API

WebContainer API is a browser-based runtime developed by StackBlitz that enables developers to run full Node.js development environments directly within web applications. It eliminates the need for external servers by leveraging local CPU and browser compute power, making it ideal for building interactive tutorials, code editors, low-code platforms, and AI applications. The technology is battle-tested by teams at Google, Cloudflare, Shopify, and other leading organizations.

• Browser-Based Node.js Runtime - Run complete Node.js environments in the browser without connecting to external servers, enabling instant, disposable development environments that are secure and lightweight.

• Native Package Manager Support - Execute native versions of npm, pnpm, and yarn directly in the browser, running up to 10x faster than local installations.

• Cross-Browser Compatibility - Full support for all major browsers including Chromium-based browsers, Firefox, and Safari Technology Preview.

• Framework Agnostic - Instantly spin up disposable environments running any major modern framework including React, Vue, Svelte, Angular, and more.

• WebAssembly Support - Run Wasm out of the box, allowing you to port your favorite language or framework to run in WebContainers.

• AI Application Integration - Powers AI-native IDEs where copilots can read, write, and understand code while operating in the full runtime context across server and client.

• Simple API Integration - Set up in just a few steps: boot a WebContainer, populate the file system, install packages programmatically, and run your development server in-browser.

• Enterprise Features - Self-hosted, on-premises, and VPC installation options with support for private NPM registries and enterprise SSO integration.

To get started, install the @webcontainer/api package and boot a WebContainer instance. Mount your project files to the container's file system, spawn npm install to install dependencies, and run your development server. The API provides programmatic control over the entire development environment, enabling rich interactive experiences like the SvelteKit tutorial at learn.svelte.dev.