Ionic was originally built as a complete open-source SDK for hybrid mobile app development created by Max Lynch, Ben Sperry, and Adam Bradley of Drifty Co. in 2013.

Ionic uses Cordova and, more recently, Capacitor plugins to gain access to host operating systems features such as Camera, GPS, Flashlight, etc.

[8][9][10] Users can build their apps, and they can then be customized for Android, iOS, Windows, Desktop (with Electron), or modern browsers.

[citation needed] Besides the SDK, Ionic also provides services that developers can use to enable features, such as code deploys, automated builds.

The CLI also allows developers to add Cordova plugins and additional front-end packages, enable push notifications, generate app Icons and Splash screens, and build native binaries.

Ionic utilizes native hardware acceleration features available in the browser (such as CSS animations) and optimizes rendering (avoiding expensive DOM manipulation).