---
title: Slint C++ API
description: Use Slint from C++ — compile .slint designs ahead of time or load them at run-time, and drive native UI from your C++ application.
---

import SlintRef from "../../components/SlintRef.astro";

[Slint](https://slint.dev/) is a UI toolkit that supports different programming
languages. This site documents the C++ API.

The following sections explain how to integrate your `.slint` designs into your
C++ application. The entry point is the `.slint` file containing the primary
component you instantiate from C++.

## Two integration options

**Compiled ahead of time.** Compile your Slint designs into C++ code that is
built into your application. This gives the smallest memory footprint and the
best performance. The CMake integration (`slint_target_sources`) makes the
translation automatic; the generated code exposes an API to get and set
properties, populate data models and handle callbacks. It uses types from the
[`slint`](api/slint/) namespace, such as `slint::SharedString` and
`slint::Color`.

**Interpreted at run-time.** Load `.slint` files dynamically at run-time. This
is slower and uses more memory, but allows more dynamic user interfaces. The
entry point is `slint::interpreter::ComponentCompiler` in the
`slint::interpreter` namespace.

## Slint Language Manual

The <SlintRef href="" label="Slint Language Documentation" code={false} /> covers the
Slint UI description language in detail.
