# 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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-authentication.md)—If your application requires authorization, you can implement it by using a signed request or OAuth 2.0.
- [Context](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-xhr-intro.md)—JavaScript support for cross-domain XML HTTP requests back to the Salesforce domain.
- [Resizing](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-resizing.md)—Methods that support the ability to resize your canvas app.
- [Events](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/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 `<apex:canvasApp>` serialize parameters as part of a redirect URL during load with known limitations.
- [Canvas Apps in the Publisher](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-apps-in-chatter-feed.md)—Lets you expose your canvas apps as feed items.
- [Canvas in the Salesforce Mobile App](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-intro-scenarios.md)**

- **[Where Canvas Apps Appear](/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-supported-browsers.md)**

  Learn where Canvas is supported.

- **[Supported Salesforce Editions](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-supported-editions.md)**

- **[User Permissions Required](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-user-perms-required.md)**

  You need certain user permissions to interact with canvas apps.

- **[User Interface Considerations](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-ui-considerations.md)**

- **[Canvas App Process](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-process-overview.md)**

- **[Canvas Personal Apps](/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](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-framework-intro-scenarios.md)
- [Canvas App Process](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/canvas-app-process-overview.md)
- [Quick Start](/docs/platform/canvas-framework/guide/quick-start-simple-intro.md)