Cordova is an open-source mobile development framework that allows developers to create applications for various platforms using web technologies like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It enables the building of cross-platform apps, meaning a single codebase can run on multiple operating systems, such as iOS and Android. Originally known as PhoneGap, Cordova provides a set of APIs that allow access to device features like the camera, GPS, and file system. This makes it easier for developers to create rich mobile experiences without needing to write platform-specific code for each operating system.