three vs pixi.js vs @babylonjs/core vs phaser vs aframe vs babylonjs
Web 3D Graphics Libraries Comparison
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threepixi.js@babylonjs/corephaseraframebabylonjs
What's Web 3D Graphics Libraries?

Web 3D graphics libraries provide developers with tools and frameworks to create rich, interactive 3D experiences in web applications. These libraries abstract the complexities of WebGL and offer higher-level APIs for rendering 3D graphics, handling animations, and managing assets. They cater to various use cases, from game development to data visualization, and enable developers to build immersive environments that can run directly in web browsers without the need for plugins.

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three1,845,634106,59330.3 MB56811 days agoMIT
pixi.js238,16245,22260.5 MB4615 days agoMIT
@babylonjs/core57,01724,19355.1 MB295 days agoApache-2.0
phaser43,863-147 MB-18 days agoMIT
aframe23,00417,08634 MB3352 months agoMIT
babylonjs11,69924,19396.9 MB295 days agoApache-2.0
Feature Comparison: three vs pixi.js vs @babylonjs/core vs phaser vs aframe vs babylonjs

Rendering Capabilities

  • three:

    Three.js is renowned for its extensive rendering capabilities, supporting a variety of materials, lighting models, and post-processing effects. It allows for the creation of complex 3D scenes with detailed textures and realistic lighting.

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is designed for high-performance 2D rendering, capable of handling complex graphics and animations efficiently. While it does not focus on 3D, it can integrate with 3D libraries for hybrid applications.

  • @babylonjs/core:

    @babylonjs/core offers advanced rendering techniques including physically-based rendering (PBR), real-time shadows, and post-processing effects. It supports a wide range of materials and textures, allowing for high-quality visual fidelity in 3D scenes.

  • phaser:

    Phaser is primarily focused on 2D rendering but provides basic 3D capabilities through plugins. It is optimized for 2D game mechanics and rendering, making it less suitable for complex 3D graphics.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame simplifies rendering by providing an easy-to-use declarative syntax for creating 3D scenes. It abstracts WebGL complexities, making it accessible for developers to create VR environments without deep knowledge of graphics programming.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js excels in rendering performance with support for WebGL 2.0, enabling high-quality graphics and smooth animations. It includes a powerful scene graph and supports a variety of rendering techniques, including dynamic lighting and shadows.

Ease of Use

  • three:

    Three.js has a moderate learning curve, but its extensive community support and documentation help developers navigate its features. It provides a flexible API for creating custom 3D visualizations.

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is relatively easy to use for 2D graphics, with a simple API that allows developers to get started quickly. However, it requires additional knowledge for more complex graphics manipulations.

  • @babylonjs/core:

    @babylonjs/core has a steeper learning curve due to its comprehensive feature set. However, it provides extensive documentation and examples to help developers get started with complex 3D applications.

  • phaser:

    Phaser is designed with ease of use in mind, particularly for 2D game development. Its straightforward API and extensive tutorials make it accessible for beginners.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame is very user-friendly, especially for web developers. Its HTML-like syntax allows for rapid prototyping of VR experiences without needing to dive deep into JavaScript or 3D concepts.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js strikes a balance between usability and functionality. While it has a learning curve, its well-structured API and documentation make it easier for developers to create sophisticated 3D applications.

Community and Ecosystem

  • three:

    Three.js has one of the largest communities among 3D libraries, with extensive documentation, examples, and third-party plugins. Its popularity ensures a wealth of resources for developers.

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js has a dedicated community of developers focused on 2D graphics. It provides numerous resources, including examples and plugins, to help developers create engaging applications.

  • @babylonjs/core:

    @babylonjs/core has a growing community with a wealth of resources, including forums, tutorials, and example projects. It is backed by Microsoft, ensuring ongoing support and development.

  • phaser:

    Phaser has a large and active community, particularly among game developers. It offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and a variety of plugins to enhance game development.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame benefits from a vibrant community focused on VR development. It has numerous plugins and components available, making it easy to extend functionality and share resources.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js boasts a strong community and a rich ecosystem of plugins and extensions. Its active development ensures that it stays up-to-date with the latest web technologies.

Performance

  • three:

    Three.js is highly performant for 3D graphics, but performance can vary based on the complexity of the scene and the hardware. Developers need to optimize their scenes to maintain high frame rates.

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is known for its high performance in 2D rendering, capable of handling thousands of sprites and complex animations with ease. It is optimized for speed and efficiency, making it ideal for interactive applications.

  • @babylonjs/core:

    @babylonjs/core is optimized for performance, supporting advanced features like instancing and level of detail (LOD) to manage complex scenes efficiently. It is suitable for high-performance applications and games.

  • phaser:

    Phaser is optimized for 2D game performance, providing fast rendering and efficient resource management. It is well-suited for mobile and web games that require quick response times.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame's performance is generally good for VR applications, but it can be limited by the underlying Three.js performance. It is essential to optimize scenes for VR to ensure smooth experiences.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js is designed for high performance, utilizing WebGL efficiently to render complex scenes with minimal overhead. It includes features like hardware acceleration and efficient memory management.

Use Cases

  • three:

    Three.js is ideal for creating custom 3D visualizations, interactive art, and complex animations. It is widely used in fields such as data visualization, gaming, and virtual reality.

  • pixi.js:

    Pixi.js is perfect for creating interactive 2D applications, games, and visualizations that require high performance and flexibility in rendering graphics.

  • @babylonjs/core:

    @babylonjs/core is ideal for creating complex 3D applications, including games, simulations, and architectural visualizations. Its rich feature set supports a wide range of use cases.

  • phaser:

    Phaser is specifically designed for 2D game development, making it the go-to choice for creating engaging 2D games across multiple platforms.

  • aframe:

    A-Frame is best suited for building VR experiences, interactive installations, and immersive web applications. It is particularly useful for developers looking to create engaging VR content quickly.

  • babylonjs:

    Babylon.js is versatile and can be used for various applications, including games, simulations, and interactive 3D visualizations. It is suitable for both web and mobile platforms.

How to Choose: three vs pixi.js vs @babylonjs/core vs phaser vs aframe vs babylonjs
  • three:

    Choose Three.js if you are looking for a well-established library that provides a solid foundation for 3D graphics. It has a large community and extensive documentation, making it suitable for both beginners and experienced developers. Three.js is ideal for projects that require custom 3D visualizations and interactive experiences.

  • pixi.js:

    Select Pixi.js if you need a fast 2D rendering engine that can handle complex graphics and animations. It is particularly useful for creating interactive web applications, games, and visualizations that require high performance and flexibility in rendering 2D graphics.

  • @babylonjs/core:

    Choose @babylonjs/core if you need a powerful and feature-rich engine for complex 3D applications, especially if you require advanced rendering techniques, physics, and a robust scene graph. It is ideal for developers familiar with game development concepts who want to leverage a comprehensive toolkit for creating high-quality graphics.

  • phaser:

    Choose Phaser if your primary goal is 2D game development. While it has some 3D capabilities, it excels in 2D rendering and game mechanics. Phaser is user-friendly and has a large community, making it a good choice for beginners and those focused on 2D games.

  • aframe:

    Select A-Frame if you are focused on building virtual reality (VR) experiences quickly and easily. A-Frame is built on top of Three.js and provides a declarative HTML-like syntax, making it accessible for web developers with limited 3D graphics experience. It is particularly suitable for creating immersive VR content for web browsers.

  • babylonjs:

    Opt for Babylon.js if you want a complete 3D engine that balances ease of use with powerful features. It supports a wide range of platforms and devices, making it versatile for both web and mobile applications. Babylon.js is great for developers looking to create visually stunning 3D games or applications with minimal setup.

Similar Npm Packages to three

three is a popular JavaScript library used for creating and displaying 3D graphics in a web browser. It leverages WebGL to render high-performance graphics and provides a simple API to work with 3D objects, scenes, cameras, lights, and animations. With its extensive features and a large community, three.js has become a go-to choice for developers looking to create interactive 3D experiences, games, and visualizations on the web.

One notable alternative to three.js is babylonjs. Babylon.js is another powerful 3D engine that allows developers to create stunning graphics and immersive experiences in the browser. It is designed to be user-friendly and provides a comprehensive set of features, including physics, animations, and a rich material system. Babylon.js also supports WebXR, making it a strong candidate for developing virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) applications. If you are looking for a robust engine with advanced features and a focus on VR/AR, Babylon.js might be the right choice for your project.

To see how three.js compares with Babylon.js, check out the comparison: Comparing three vs babylonjs.

Similar Npm Packages to pixi.js

pixi.js is a popular 2D rendering library for creating interactive graphics and animations in web applications. It leverages WebGL for high-performance rendering while providing a fallback to HTML5 Canvas for compatibility with older browsers. With its easy-to-use API, pixi.js is widely used in game development, interactive applications, and visualizations, making it a go-to choice for developers looking to create rich graphical experiences.

One notable alternative to pixi.js is phaser. Phaser is a robust framework specifically designed for building 2D games. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including physics engines, input handling, sound management, and tilemap support, making it an excellent choice for game developers. While pixi.js focuses primarily on rendering and graphics, Phaser provides a more complete game development environment, which can be beneficial for those looking to build full-fledged games with various built-in functionalities.

For a detailed comparison of these two libraries, you can visit the following link: Comparing phaser vs pixi.js.

Similar Npm Packages to @babylonjs/core

@babylonjs/core is a powerful 3D engine that allows developers to create stunning graphics and immersive experiences in web applications. Built on WebGL, Babylon.js provides a comprehensive set of tools and features for rendering 3D graphics, including physics, animations, and a rich scene graph. Its modular architecture allows developers to include only the components they need, making it a flexible choice for a variety of projects, from games to interactive visualizations.

While Babylon.js is a robust option for 3D development, there are several alternatives in the ecosystem that cater to different needs and preferences:

  • aframe is a web framework for building virtual reality (VR) experiences using HTML. It simplifies the process of creating VR applications by providing an easy-to-use declarative syntax. A-Frame is built on top of three.js and is particularly suited for developers looking to create immersive VR experiences without diving deep into the complexities of 3D programming. Its focus on accessibility and ease of use makes it a great choice for beginners and rapid prototyping.

  • babylonjs is the original version of the Babylon.js engine, which provides a comprehensive set of features for 3D rendering. While @babylonjs/core is a modular version that allows for more flexibility, the full Babylon.js package includes everything needed to get started with 3D development in a single package. It is ideal for developers who prefer an all-in-one solution without having to manage multiple dependencies.

  • phaser is a popular 2D game framework that provides a rich set of features for developing games in HTML5. While it primarily focuses on 2D graphics, Phaser offers a robust suite of tools for game development, including physics, input handling, and asset management. If your project is primarily 2D and requires a game-focused framework, Phaser is an excellent choice.

  • pixi.js is a 2D rendering engine that excels in creating visually rich graphics and animations. It is particularly well-suited for applications that require high-performance rendering, such as games and interactive applications. If you are focused on 2D graphics and need a fast and flexible rendering solution, Pixi.js is a great option.

  • three is a widely-used 3D library that provides a simple and efficient way to create 3D graphics in the browser. It is highly versatile and can be used for a variety of applications, from games to data visualizations. While it may require more setup compared to Babylon.js, its flexibility and extensive community support make it a popular choice among developers.

To compare these packages and see how they stack up against each other, check out the following link: Comparing @babylonjs/core vs aframe vs babylonjs vs phaser vs pixi.js vs three.

Similar Npm Packages to phaser

phaser is a popular open-source HTML5 game framework that enables developers to create 2D games for web and mobile platforms. With its rich set of features, including a powerful rendering engine, physics systems, input handling, and asset management, Phaser provides a comprehensive toolkit for game development. It is particularly well-suited for both beginners and experienced developers, as it offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and a supportive community. Whether you're building simple arcade games or complex interactive experiences, Phaser makes it easier to bring your game ideas to life.

While Phaser is a robust option for game development, there are alternatives available that cater to different needs. One notable alternative is pixi.js. Pixi.js is a fast 2D rendering engine that excels in rendering graphics and animations using WebGL and HTML5. It is particularly well-suited for projects that require high-performance rendering, such as interactive animations, visualizations, and games. Unlike Phaser, which provides a full game framework, Pixi.js focuses primarily on rendering, giving developers the flexibility to integrate it with other libraries or frameworks for game logic and functionality.

For developers who prioritize performance and rendering capabilities, Pixi.js is an excellent choice. However, if you are looking for a more comprehensive game development framework that includes built-in game mechanics and features, Phaser may be the better option.

To explore the differences and similarities between these two libraries, check out the comparison: Comparing phaser vs pixi.js.

README for three

three.js

NPM Package Build Size NPM Downloads Discord DeepWiki

JavaScript 3D library

The aim of the project is to create an easy-to-use, lightweight, cross-browser, general-purpose 3D library. The current builds only include WebGL and WebGPU renderers but SVG and CSS3D renderers are also available as addons.

Examples — Docs — Manual — Wiki — Migrating — Questions — Forum — Discord

Usage

This code creates a scene, a camera, and a geometric cube, and it adds the cube to the scene. It then creates a WebGL renderer for the scene and camera, and it adds that viewport to the document.body element. Finally, it animates the cube within the scene for the camera.

import * as THREE from 'three';

const width = window.innerWidth, height = window.innerHeight;

// init

const camera = new THREE.PerspectiveCamera( 70, width / height, 0.01, 10 );
camera.position.z = 1;

const scene = new THREE.Scene();

const geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry( 0.2, 0.2, 0.2 );
const material = new THREE.MeshNormalMaterial();

const mesh = new THREE.Mesh( geometry, material );
scene.add( mesh );

const renderer = new THREE.WebGLRenderer( { antialias: true } );
renderer.setSize( width, height );
renderer.setAnimationLoop( animate );
document.body.appendChild( renderer.domElement );

// animation

function animate( time ) {

	mesh.rotation.x = time / 2000;
	mesh.rotation.y = time / 1000;

	renderer.render( scene, camera );

}

If everything goes well, you should see this.

Cloning this repository

Cloning the repo with all its history results in a ~2 GB download. If you don't need the whole history you can use the depth parameter to significantly reduce download size.

git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/mrdoob/three.js.git

Change log

Releases

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