Learn ONSEN-UI with Real Code Examples

Onsen UI offers mobile-optimized UI components that adapt to platform-specific design guidelines.

It works with popular frameworks including Angular, React, and Vue, or with plain JavaScript.

Ideal for developers building hybrid apps with a single codebase for multiple mobile platforms.

Prebuilt UI components: buttons, lists, tabs, dialogs, and more

Flexible layout system using CSS and Grid/Flexbox

Page navigation with push/pop transitions

Automatic platform styling for iOS and Android

Integration with Cordova/Capacitor plugins

Pages are defined using `<ons-page>` elements

Navigation is handled via `<ons-navigator>` or router integration

Use `<ons-button>`, `<ons-list>`, `<ons-tabbar>` for standard UI components

Platform-specific styling handled automatically

Components are framework-agnostic or have framework bindings

src/ - main source code including pages and components

index.html - entry point for web/hybrid apps

package.json - dependencies and scripts

node_modules/ - installed packages

www/ - Cordova/Capacitor output for mobile deployment

Initialize project with framework CLI or Monaca CLI

Create pages using Onsen UI components

Integrate navigation with `<ons-navigator>` or routing library

Apply CSS themes and platform-specific styling

Test app in browser and mobile devices

Beginner: simple hybrid mobile UI

Intermediate: multi-page navigation and routing

Advanced: integrating native device features via Cordova/Capacitor

Expert: custom animations and platform-specific styling

Community: creating custom components or contributing to Onsen UI

Onsen UI vs React Native: Onsen is hybrid/web-based, React Native is fully native

Onsen UI vs Flutter: Onsen uses web technologies, Flutter uses Dart and native rendering

Onsen UI vs Ionic: Both hybrid, Onsen UI focuses on minimalism and platform-adaptive UI

Onsen UI emphasizes simplicity and quick prototyping

Performance slightly lower than fully native solutions

2013 – Initial release by Asial Corporation

2014–2015 – Gained popularity in hybrid app development

2016–2018 – Added Angular, React, Vue bindings

2019–2021 – Performance and theme improvements

2022–2025 – Continued updates and community contributions

Onsen UI: hybrid/mobile UI framework

Pages: screens in Onsen apps

Navigator: handles page stack and transitions

Platform-adaptive: automatically styles components for iOS/Android

Cordova/Capacitor: plugins for native functionality