In a software context, the term “wrapper” refers to programs or codes that literally wrap around other program components. Several different wrapper functions can be distinguished. They are often used for ensuring compatibility or interoperability between different software structures. Alternatively, they can be used for visual reasons, as is the case with HTML or CSS wrappers. Wrappers can be individual software components, independent software products, software architectures, classes in object-oriented programming, or frameworks.
If you want to use functions or code blocks of another programming language within a program, you can encapsulate them using a wrapper. The main program communicates exclusively with the wrapper, which forwards the commands to the wrapped program and returns the results. The wrapper itself is the only component that communicates directly with both parts of the program.
Wrappers can be used in a variety of ways in programming and software development. The following examples show how wrappers work and the different tasks they perform.