wxWidgets is a free, open-source C++ library that enables developers to create native-looking GUI applications for Windows, macOS, Linux, and other platforms from a single codebase. With bindings available for Python, Perl, Java, and other languages, wxWidgets provides accessible cross-platform development.
Applications built with wxWidgets use native platform controls wherever possible, providing authentic appearance and behavior on each operating system. The same source code compiles for all supported platforms without modification. Build systems handle platform-specific compilation requirements.
The widget set includes all standard controls: windows, dialogs, buttons, text fields, lists, trees, grids, and more. Specialized controls handle complex requirements like styled text editing, HTML rendering, and property grid editing. Custom controls inherit from base classes for complete flexibility.
The event system handles user input, window management, and application events uniformly across platforms. Timers schedule periodic callbacks. Idle processing enables background work. Threading support manages concurrent operations safely.
Graphics support spans basic drawing operations through advanced requirements. The device context abstraction handles screen, printer, and memory destinations consistently. Support for various image formats includes loading, saving, and manipulation.
Additional features include printing support, drag and drop, clipboard access, database connectivity, networking, and XML handling. The comprehensive documentation includes reference materials and tutorials. Active development maintains compatibility with current and future platform versions.