About Developing Apps

To support you on your app development journey, Wix offers a wide range of tools and technologies. From planning and setup to building, launching, and managing your app, we provide everything you need. This article provides an overview of the Wix Dev Center, development frameworks, extensions, business solutions, API integrations, access protocols, and the Wix Design System, with links to more detailed articles on each topic.

Wix Dev Center

The Wix Dev Center is a hub for connecting and managing your app within the Wix ecosystem. Regardless of how you build your app, your journey will likely include a visit to the Dev Center. It offers various tools to help you prepare, build, integrate, launch, and manage your app.

For more information, see About the Wix Dev Center.

Frameworks

Wix offers 3 development frameworks for building apps, each providing a comprehensive development model. A framework allows you to extend your app's functionality. The framework you choose depends on the type of extension you want to implement.

The 3 frameworks are:

  • Wix Blocks: Design, code, and deploy on Wix’s native app editor.
  • Wix CLI: Code and deploy with Wix’s React/Node.js stack.
  • Self-hosting: Use your own tech stack.

For more information, see About Development Frameworks.

Extensions

An extension is a specific functionality of an app, categorized into two broad types: frontend and backend. Both frontend and backend extensions are typically developed using one of Wix’s development frameworks. Frontend extensions include site extensions and dashboard extensions, focusing on user interface enhancements. Backend extensions, on the other hand, enhance backend capabilities through service plugins, schema plugins and notifications. Apps can incorporate multiple extensions that work together to offer diverse features across various user interfaces and backend services.

For more information, see About Extensions.

Business Solutions

Business solutions are native apps built by Wix that provide capabilities like eCommerce, running events, writing blogs, managing restaurants, and more. Users add Wix business solutions to their sites by installing these apps. Your app can integrate with Wix's business solutions through plugins or APIs.

For more information, see About Wix Business Solutions.

API Integrations

With Wix APIs, you can transfer data, extend Wix business solutions, and customize your app's interactions with site visitors. Each API includes events, which are automated responses sent to your app when specific site actions occur. Wix offers a variety of API technologies, including REST, JavaScript SDK, GraphQL, and Velo, to suit your app's requirements. These APIs enable integration with different areas of the Wix ecosystem.

For more information, see About Wix APIs.

Access

Access to Wix APIs requires successful authentication and authorization. Authentication confirms the identity of the entity making the request, while authorization determines the permitted actions for that identity. Recognized identities include site visitors, site members, Wix users (or admins), and Wix apps. Third-party apps integrating with Wix APIs need to authenticate following the OAuth protocol. Authorization protects your site data by ensuring that only authorized users can perform specific actions.

For more information, see About Access for Wix Apps.

Wix Design System

The Wix Design System is a comprehensive toolkit for developers and designers to craft beautiful and intuitive product experiences. The Wix Design System offers a range of resources, including React libraries, design patterns, Figma kits, component documentation, interactive playgrounds, color palettes, icons, fonts, and more. For developers, the Wix Design System includes a React library of core reusable components. For designers, the Wix Design System includes a Figma kit to integrate Wix design assets into their design workflow.

For more information, see About the Wix Design System.

See also

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