Embedded (CEF)
CEF Transparency
A company-internal Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) transparency build.
- CEF
- Chromium
- C++
- Embedded browser
What was built
CEF Transparency is an internal build of the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF), made for a company’s own use rather than as a public product. CEF lets a native application embed a Chromium-based browser inside its own window, so the host application can render web content while keeping its own window chrome, controls and behavior. Building it in C++ means working directly against Chromium’s embedding API rather than a higher-level wrapper, which gives the host application more control over how the embedded browser is created, sized and updated.
The engineering challenge
CEF lets an application host Chromium inside its own window. That gives the app modern web rendering while the app itself stays in control of the surrounding window and behaviour. This is the pattern behind internal tooling that needs to show live or rendered web content inside a desktop application, without shipping a separate, full browser to its users. Because it is internal tooling rather than a public release, there was no store listing, installer or update channel to build — just the embedded browser itself and the C++ code that connects it to the host application.
How it works
Illustration: how CEF places Chromium inside an application window.
Engineering scope and what shipped
- A custom Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) build
- Built for internal company use
Engineering approach: how it fits together
How CEF Transparency fits inside the host application
Host application
The internal company application, with its own native window, menus and controls.
CEF integration
The C++ code that creates, sizes and updates the embedded browser view inside the host window.
Chromium Embedded Framework
CEF wraps the Chromium rendering engine for embedding inside another application.
Internal build and release
Built and distributed for the company’s own internal use, with no public store listing or installer.
- Your product
- Our engineering
- Upstream, kept as close to unmodified as possible
- Platforms and release
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