What provides the ability to share files or functionalities across different operating systems or web browsers?

Cross-platform compatibility is the ability of software or applications to function across various operating systems and web browsers without needing significant modifications. This feature is crucial in today’s diverse technological environment, where users may operate on different devices and platforms, such as Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, or Android.

When an application is designed with cross-platform compatibility, it means that it can seamlessly share files and functionalities, allowing users from different operating systems or browsers to interact with the application without experiencing compatibility issues. This is particularly important for web applications, which are accessed through browsers, as they need to work consistently across different browser environments to deliver a uniform user experience.

In contrast, multi-platform access refers to the capability to use a service or application on multiple platforms, while web-based applications are accessed through a web browser, but may not necessarily function across all operating systems. An application programming interface (API) is a set of rules that allows different software entities to communicate with one another, but it does not inherently provide cross-platform capabilities by itself.