In this section, we will delve into the structure of an Apache Cordova project. Understanding the project structure is crucial for efficiently managing and developing your Cordova applications. We will break down each component and explain its purpose.

When you create a new Cordova project, it generates a directory structure with several key components:

1. config.xml
2. hooks/
3. platforms/
4. plugins/
5. www/
6. merges/
7. res/

The config.xml file is the core configuration file for your Cordova project. It contains metadata about your app, such as its name, version, author, and platform-specific settings.

Example:

The hooks/ directory contains scripts that are executed at various stages of the Cordova build process. These scripts can be used to customize the build process, such as modifying files before or after a build.

Example:

• before_build/
• after_build/

The platforms/ directory contains platform-specific code and assets. When you add a platform (e.g., Android, iOS), Cordova creates a subdirectory for that platform within this directory.

Example:

• android/
• ios/

The plugins/ directory contains all the Cordova plugins that your project uses. Each plugin is stored in its own subdirectory.

Example:

• cordova-plugin-camera/
• cordova-plugin-device/

The www/ directory is where your web assets (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, images) are stored. This is the main directory for your application's front-end code.

Example:

• index.html
• css/
• js/
• img/

The merges/ directory allows you to provide platform-specific overrides for files in the www/ directory. This is useful if you need to customize the behavior or appearance of your app for different platforms.

Example:

• android/
• ios/

The res/ directory is used to store resources such as icons and splash screens for different platforms.

Example:

• icons/
• screens/

Let's create a simple Cordova project and explore its structure.

1. Create a new Cordova project:

   cordova create HelloCordova com.example.hello HelloCordova
   

2. Navigate to the project directory:

   cd HelloCordova
   

3. Add a platform (e.g., Android):

   cordova platform add android
   

4. Add a plugin (e.g., Device plugin):

   cordova plugin add cordova-plugin-device
   

5. Explore the project structure:

   tree -L 2
   

   Output:

   .
   ├── config.xml
   ├── hooks
   ├── platforms
   │   └── android
   ├── plugins
   │   └── cordova-plugin-device
   ├── www
   │   ├── css
   │   ├── img
   │   ├── index.html
   │   └── js
   └── merges
   

In this section, we covered the essential components of a Cordova project structure. Understanding these components will help you manage your project more effectively and customize it according to your needs. In the next module, we will explore the core concepts and APIs of Cordova, starting with Cordova plugins.