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How Netflix builds for TV
The reference implementation for a high-performance TV app at global scale.
Where Netflix runs
General availability across the major smart-TV platforms. Support changes over time.
How Netflix is built for TV
Netflix runs a custom UI stack called Gibbon on most smart TVs and streaming sticks: a React-based rendering layer that draws to the GPU directly instead of relying on the device's DOM, which is how one codebase stays smooth across wildly different hardware.
This is publicly documented on the Netflix tech blog. The takeaway for builders: on low-power TV hardware, the browser's DOM is often the bottleneck, and the biggest apps route around it.
Building something like Netflix?
- Design for the remote first. Netflix's entire UI is a spatial-navigation grid, not a pointer UI.
- Budget for memory on the oldest devices you support, not the flagship in your office.
- Image loading and video buffering strategy matter more than screen size. Test on real low-RAM panels.
Netflix on TV: FAQ
Which TV platforms is Netflix on?+
Netflix runs on essentially every major smart-TV platform, including Tizen, webOS, Roku, Fire TV, Android TV, tvOS, SmartCast.
Is Netflix a native or web app on TV?+
Netflix is a hybrid app on TV, with rendering handled by Gibbon (custom React-based renderer).
How do I build a TV app like Netflix?+
Design for the remote first. Netflix's entire UI is a spatial-navigation grid, not a pointer UI. From there, our cross-platform testing and deployment guides cover the packaging and certification flow for each platform.
Sources & further reading
Availability and engineering details are compiled from public sources and change over time. Netflix is a trademark of its owner; this page is an independent developer reference and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Netflix.