ARCore
Developer	Google
Initial release	February 23, 2018; 7 years ago (2018-02-23)
Stable release	1.45.2420502[1] / August 14, 2024; 15 months ago (2024-08-14)
Operating system	Android
Platform	Android 7.0 and later
Website	developers.google.com/ar/

ARCore, also known asGoogle Play Services for AR, is asoftware development kit developed byGoogle that allows foraugmented reality (AR) applications to be built. ARCore has been certified for a number of devices,^[2] but is software-locked on devices that did not complete the certification procedure. Spoofing the ID of a device that completed the procedure makes ARCore work on more devices.^[3] Requirements for certification include the "quality of the camera, motion sensors [and] a powerful enough CPU that integrates with the hardware design". Devices must also ship with Google Play to qualify for placement on the list of supported devices.^[2] New devices can be submitted through the Google AR OEM Portal.^[4]

ARCore uses a few key technologies to integrate virtual content with the real world as seen through the camera of a smartphone or tablet.^[5] Each of these technologies can be utilized by developers to create a high-quality, immersive AR experience.

• Allows the phone to understand andtrack its position relative to the world.
• Amotion tracking process known assimultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) utilizes feature points - which are visually distinct objects within camera view - to provide focal points for the phone to determine proper positioning (pose) of the device.^[6]

• Allows the phone to detect the size and location of flat surfaces - both vertical and horizontal - with feature points.
• Geometric plane can be calculated based on detected feature points.
• A scene semanticsAPI is used to gather real-timesemantic data about the user's surroundings and uses that data to identify objects and features in view.

• Lighting Estimation API allows the phone to estimate the environment's current lighting conditions and display images accurately in relation to real-world lighting.
  • Lighting cues such as shadows and highlights are used to more immersively display virtual objects.^[7]

• Utilizes the phone's camera to createdepth maps, which enable the device to more accurately determine the amount of space between surfaces based on what is captured.^[8]
  • In order to properly assess the real world, depth maps are created to measure the amount of space between objects or surfaces.
  • A depth-from-motion algorithm takes the motion data from the user's camera and utilizes it to create a more detailed depth map.^[9]

• This function's API usesGPS and allows creators to give users unique experiences based on their real-world location.^[10]
  • Google's visual positioning system (VPS) is utilized for this process.
• Matches the user's visual data with that ofGoogle Maps to determine precise location.

• ARKit – Augmented reality API for Apple platforms
• OpenXR – Standard for access to virtual reality and augmented reality platforms and devices

• Official website

• Google software
• Software development kits
• Computer-related introductions in 2018
• 3D imaging
• Augmented reality

• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use dmy dates from May 2018