Ktor is a framework for building asynchronous server applications and cross-platform network clients using the Kotlin programming language. It provides a lightweight, modular architecture that allows developers to construct services and communication layers by composing independent components and plugins.
The framework is defined by its pipeline-based plugin system, which enables the injection of custom logic into request processing stages, and a type-safe domain-specific language for defining application routing. By utilizing an asynchronous execution model, it handles concurrent network operations without blocking system resources. The framework also features a multi-platform engine abstraction, ensuring that network clients maintain consistent behavior across different operating systems.
Beyond core development, the project includes tooling for project initialization, automated refactoring of routing logic, and endpoint navigation. These features assist in managing complex API structures and maintaining consistency between client and server codebases. The framework is supported by an interactive setup wizard and integrated tools for debugging and testing service execution.
