# cross-platform

> characteristic of computer software capable of being implemented and operating on multiple computing platforms

**Wikidata**: [Q174666](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174666)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cross-platform

## Summary
Cross-platform is a characteristic of computer software that allows it to be implemented and operate on multiple computing platforms. Also known as platform independence, this capability enables a single program to run on different operating systems and hardware environments without significant modification. This is a fundamental concept in software development for creating applications that can reach a wide and diverse user base.

## Key Facts
- **Primary Definition:** A characteristic of software that can be implemented and operate on multiple computing platforms.
- **Classification:** It is a facet of "cross-platform software" and "cross-platform play," and is related to "cross-browser compatibility."
- **Aliases:** Commonly referred to as "multi-platform" or "platform independence." Other aliases include "multi-plataforma," "マルチプラットフォーム," and "设备独立性."
- **Developer Community:** Recognized as a formal topic on GitHub (`cross-platform`), Quora, and Stack Exchange, indicating its importance in software engineering.
- **Examples:** The characteristic applies to a wide range of software, including the Jython interpreter, the Arora web browser, the Tailwind CSS framework, and the `cowsay` command-line program.
- **Scope:** The concept is notable enough to have dedicated pages in at least 10 different Wikipedia language editions.
- **Identifier:** The entity's Freebase ID is `/m/0kyzf`.

## FAQs
### Q: What does it mean for software to be cross-platform?
A: It means the software is designed to run on multiple types of computer systems. For example, a single cross-platform application could work on Windows, macOS, and Linux without needing a completely separate version written for each one.

### Q: Is "cross-platform" the same as "platform independence"?
A: Yes, the terms are often used interchangeably. Both "cross-platform" and "platform independence" describe the ability of software to function across different hardware or software environments.

### Q: What are some examples of cross-platform software?
A: The source material lists many examples, including the Arora web browser, the Jython implementation of Python, the Sigma File Manager, the static site generator MkDocs, and the JSON library RapidJSON.

## Why It Matters
The concept of being cross-platform is crucial in modern computing because it addresses the problem of a fragmented digital ecosystem. Different users have different devices and operating systems (like Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS). Without cross-platform development, software creators would need to build and maintain separate, dedicated versions of their applications for each system, a process that is expensive, time-consuming, and prone to inconsistencies.

By enabling a "write once, run anywhere" approach, cross-platform compatibility allows developers to use a single codebase to reach the broadest possible audience. This dramatically reduces development costs and effort, speeds up release cycles, and ensures a more consistent user experience across all devices. It is a foundational principle for most web technologies, open-source projects, and any application aiming for widespread adoption.

## Notable For
- **Broad Applicability:** The cross-platform characteristic is not limited to a single software category. It applies to diverse tools, from web development frameworks (Tailwind CSS) and programming language interpreters (Jython) to desktop applications (Arora browser) and even simple command-line utilities (cowsay).
- **Enabling Open Source:** Many open-source projects are designed to be cross-platform to maximize their accessibility and user base. Examples from the source material include the streaming software Owncast, the DICOM server Orthanc, and the Kiwix code base Libkiwix.
- **Core Principle of Modern Development:** The ability to function across multiple platforms is a central goal in software engineering. Its importance is reflected in its status as a dedicated topic on developer communities like GitHub and Stack Overflow, where it is a common subject of discussion and problem-solving.
- **Facilitating Web and Cloud Technologies:** Many web-based tools and libraries are inherently cross-platform, as they are designed to run in a web browser or on a server, regardless of the underlying operating system. Examples include Google Native Client, Animate.css, and Plausible Analytics.

## Body
### ### Definition and Terminology
Cross-platform is formally defined as a characteristic of computer software that is capable of being implemented and operating on multiple computing platforms. This concept is also widely known by several aliases, including:
- multi-platform
- platform independence
- multi-plataforma (Spanish)
- マルチプラットフォーム (Japanese)
- 设备独立性 (Chinese)
- متقاطع المنصات (Arabic)

### ### Classification and Relationships
In computing taxonomies, "cross-platform" is considered a facet of the broader class of **cross-platform software**. It is also a subclass of **operating system** and related to the concept of **cross-browser compatibility**, which deals specifically with web technologies functioning across different web browsers.

### ### Examples in Practice
The provided data lists numerous software projects that are explicitly cross-platform, demonstrating the concept's wide application across different domains:

*   **Applications and Utilities:**
    *   **Sigma File Manager:** A free software file manager.
    *   **Arora:** A web browser.
    *   **Piskel:** A web and desktop application for creating pixel art.
    *   **cowsay:** A program that generates ASCII art of a cow with a message.
    *   **You-Get:** A command-line utility for downloading web media.

*   **Developer Tools and Libraries:**
    *   **Jython:** A Java implementation of the Python interpreter, first released in 2001.
    *   **Tailwind CSS:** A utility-first CSS framework, first released in 2019.
    *   **swc:** A JavaScript and TypeScript compiler.
    *   **PDFium:** A PDF rendering library.
    *   **RapidJSON** and **simdjson:** High-performance JSON libraries for C++.
    *   **Setuptools:** A package development library for Python.
    *   **Eclipse Mylyn:** A plug-in for the Eclipse IDE, first released in 2003.

*   **Servers and Infrastructure:**
    *   **Orthanc:** A lightweight DICOM server for medical imaging.
    *   **Owncast:** Open-source software for self-hosting streaming video services.
    *   **Voldemort:** A distributed data store first developed in 2009.
    *   **Mirakurun:** A DTV tuner server service.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "cross-platform",
  "description": "A characteristic of computer software capable of being implemented and operating on multiple computing platforms.",
  "alternateName": [
    "multi-platform",
    "platform independence",
    "multi-plataforma",
    "Cross-Platform",
    "マルチプラットフォーム",
    "设备独立性",
    "متقاطع المنصات",
    "متعدد المنصات"
  ]
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)