--- schema_version: "1" id: f14fe0942b833ce7d7633ee245ce9cadb4b3701533cde2d7c2e1a8fdd774a7bc title: Introducing Canvas collection: developer version: current locale: en-us portal_url: https://docs.salesforce.com/developer/current/en-us/platform/canvas-framework/guides/platform-connect/introducing/canvas-framework-intro.md canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-intro.html source_site: developer.salesforce.com content_type: documentation content_hash: 920b506271e8c04f52d64c7fa6fe32a135187ec050b384824dc3c8ea39a5102f products: - Canvas Developer Guide - Platform Developer Content --- # Introducing Canvas Canvas enables you to easily integrate a third-party application in Salesforce. Canvas is a set of tools and JavaScript APIs that you can use to expose an application as a Canvas app. Then take your new or existing applications and make them available to your users as part of their Salesforce experience. **important:** To prepare your Canvas apps for the new web browser restrictions on third-party cookies, see [How Third-Party Cookie Restrictions Impact Salesforce Canvas Apps](https://help.salesforce.com/s/articleView?id=002192971&type=1) in Salesforce Help. Instead of redesigning and reintegrating your external applications, you can now use these tools to integrate your technology within Canvas. Canvas includes tools that handle: - [Authentication](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/canvas-app-authentication.md)—If your application requires authorization, you can implement it by using a signed request or OAuth 2.0. - [Context](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/reference/context-object.md)—API support that enables you to retrieve context information about the environment in which the canvas app is running. - [Cross-domain XHR](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/canvas-app-xhr-intro.md)—JavaScript support for cross-domain XML HTTP requests back to the Salesforce domain. - [Resizing](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/resizing/canvas-app-resizing.md)—Methods that support the ability to resize your canvas app. - [Events](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/events/canvas-app-events.md)—Events provide a JavaScript-based way to send and receive events between canvas apps. Use events to enable communication between multiple canvas apps on a single page. - [Canvas Apps in Aura](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/canvas-app-aura-code-example.md)—An Aura component that lets you expose your canvas app in a custom Aura component. - [Canvas Apps in Visualforce](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/canvas-framework-using-vf-intro.md)—A Visualforce component that lets you expose your canvas app on a Visualforce page. Canvas apps embedded in Visualforce using `` serialize parameters as part of a redirect URL during load with known limitations. - [Canvas Apps in the Publisher](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/chatter/canvas-apps-in-publisher.md)—Lets you add a canvas app as a custom action and expand the publisher to include a canvas app. - [Canvas Apps in the Chatter Feed](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/chatter/canvas-apps-in-chatter-feed.md)—Lets you expose your canvas apps as feed items. - [Canvas in the Salesforce Mobile App](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/using/chatter/canvas-apps-in-salesforce1.md)—Makes your canvas apps available in the Salesforce mobile app. The third-party app that you want to expose as a Canvas app can be written in any language. The only requirement is that the app has a secure URL (HTTPS). ## Other Integration Options Before diving into Canvas, consider these other options for integrating a third-party application in Salesforce. - [Web tabs](https://help.salesforce.com/articleView?id=creating_web_tabs.htm) - : Canvas apps present third-party applications as part of a page. Web tabs can present a full application in a large screen space. - HTML iframes in a custom component - : Canvas apps provide greater functionality than developing with iframes. Iframes are sometimes easier to integrate with your application. - **[Canvas Scenarios](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-intro-scenarios.md)** - **[Where Canvas Apps Appear](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-apps-where-they-appear.md)** Canvas apps can appear in various places, depending on your Canvas app settings. - **[Supported Browsers](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-supported-browsers.md)** Learn where Canvas is supported. - **[Supported Salesforce Editions](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-supported-editions.md)** - **[User Permissions Required](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-user-perms-required.md)** You need certain user permissions to interact with canvas apps. - **[User Interface Considerations](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-ui-considerations.md)** - **[Canvas App Process](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-process-overview.md)** - **[Canvas Personal Apps](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-personal-apps-about.md)** Canvas personal apps let you create connected apps that are designed specifically for end users across orgs. With a canvas personal app, you make your own app available for installation without relying on org admins for distribution. **See Also** - [Canvas Scenarios](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-intro-scenarios.md) - [Canvas App Process](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-process-overview.md) - [Quick Start](https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/platform/canvas-framework/quick-start-simple/quick-start-simple-intro.md)