Should I use webPopup or webView?

Solar2D General Questions/Discussion
#1

I need to have some built-in browser showing web contents in my app, I found there are two methods to do so, 

(1) webPopup

(2) webView

Which one should I choose?

From the documentation, it looks like webView is more flexible and better than webPopup… in what condition would I ever consider using webPopup?

#2

Hi @joe16,

“webPopup” is the older API. “webView” is the better option and I suggest that you use that one.

Best regards,

Brent Sorrentino

#3

Thanks, Brent. 

About “webView”, the document says “Native web views are available on iOS devices and Android devices only. This feature is not supported by the Corona Simulator.”

Does it mean I have to test webView on real devices and the Simulator doesn’t show any webView?

#4

Hi Joe,

Yeah, it means the Corona simulator won’t display webViews or web Pop ups.

You can still use them in the Xcode simulator though!

Hope that helps! :slight_smile:

#5

But it’s weird, when I call native.newWebView()

I can see the web view in my Corona simulator

How come?!

#6

I think the documentation is wrong on that point.  webViews don’t display in the Windows simulator, but they do display on the Mac simulator.  So if you’re using a Mac, that’s why you can see them.

  • Andrew
#7

I use mac, and I can’t see them…

(I’m using the latest build)

#8

Hmm, interesting.  Which Mac OS version are you running?  I definitely do see webViews in the Corona simulator on my Mac, running 10.8.4.  That said, they don’t always render exactly the same as they do on the device, so I end up focusing on the device anyway.

  • Andrew
#9

My Mac OS is also 10.8.4

I can see the webview showing the webpages I specify

I do believe it might have slight difference in real devices, but I just wonder why the document says it’s not supported in Simulator, what I should be wary about?

#10

The document says the “webPopup” is available in Mac Simulator while “webView” is not supported in Simulator.

So it’s quite confusing!

I will assume “webView” is also available in Mac Simulator then

Thanks.

#11

Hi all,

The documentation was a bit off on this; thanks for pointing it out. Native webView does work in the Mac Corona Simulator. I’ll be making this change to the documentation shortly.

Brent

#12

Hi @joe16,

“webPopup” is the older API. “webView” is the better option and I suggest that you use that one.

Best regards,

Brent Sorrentino

#13

Thanks, Brent. 

About “webView”, the document says “Native web views are available on iOS devices and Android devices only. This feature is not supported by the Corona Simulator.”

Does it mean I have to test webView on real devices and the Simulator doesn’t show any webView?

#14

Hi Joe,

Yeah, it means the Corona simulator won’t display webViews or web Pop ups.

You can still use them in the Xcode simulator though!

Hope that helps! :slight_smile:

#15

But it’s weird, when I call native.newWebView()

I can see the web view in my Corona simulator

How come?!

#16

I think the documentation is wrong on that point.  webViews don’t display in the Windows simulator, but they do display on the Mac simulator.  So if you’re using a Mac, that’s why you can see them.

  • Andrew
#17

I use mac, and I can’t see them…

(I’m using the latest build)

#18

Hmm, interesting.  Which Mac OS version are you running?  I definitely do see webViews in the Corona simulator on my Mac, running 10.8.4.  That said, they don’t always render exactly the same as they do on the device, so I end up focusing on the device anyway.

  • Andrew
#19

My Mac OS is also 10.8.4

I can see the webview showing the webpages I specify

I do believe it might have slight difference in real devices, but I just wonder why the document says it’s not supported in Simulator, what I should be wary about?

#20

The document says the “webPopup” is available in Mac Simulator while “webView” is not supported in Simulator.

So it’s quite confusing!

I will assume “webView” is also available in Mac Simulator then

Thanks.