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Codea is an integrated development environment for the iPad that enables users to write and run Lua code to create games and graphical simulations directly on the device. It emphasizes a live-coding workflow, providing immediate visual feedback as code changes are made. Codea includes a built-in code editor, a graphics API, support for touch input and audio, and a physics engine, enabling rapid prototyping without a desktop computer.

Codea’s scripting language is Lua, and the app exposes a high-level set of functions for drawing shapes, textures, and sprites, as well as camera and timing controls. It also supports shader code in GLSL for custom rendering effects, and includes a physics wrapper based on Box2D for 2D simulations. The platform is designed for creative coding, game development, and educational use, with examples and templates to help beginners.

Codea was developed by Two Lives Left and released for iPad in 2011, making it one of the early mobile code editors focused on learning and prototype development. It has since evolved with new libraries, performance improvements, and compatibility with modern iPad hardware and iPadOS versions. It is distributed through the App Store and targets hobbyists, students, and professionals who want to program on the go.

Projects created in Codea can be shared with others via built-in sharing features, and developers can export projects for use in other environments or to publish apps. The app emphasizes a simple, approachable workflow that lowers barriers to coding by removing the need for separate development tools.