how Apache Cordova works

Im just curious and would like to know if anyone could provide an explination to how Apache Cordova converts a web application to a cross platform application.

Ive read this explination: https://blogs.sap.com/2014/07/27/what-is-cordova-and-how-does-it-work/

But i guess my question is what use dose a WebView have in all this exactly? Surely native apps are'nt rendered in WebViews, so what purpose dose it have with the cross platform applications? Is it converted into something?

I'd appreciate it if someone could clear the air.