| WebXR | |
|---|---|
| WebXR Device API | |
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| Status |
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| Organization | W3C |
| Committee |
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| Editors |
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| Base standards |
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| Domain | |
| Website | immersive-web |
WebXR Device API is a Webapplication programming interface (API)[1][2] that describes support for accessingaugmented reality andvirtual reality devices, such as theHTC Vive,Oculus Rift,Meta Quest,Google Cardboard,HoloLens,Apple Vision Pro,Android XR-based devices,Magic Leap orOpen Source Virtual Reality (OSVR), in aweb browser.[3][4] The WebXR Device API and related APIs[5] are standards defined byW3C groups, the Immersive Web Community Group[6] and Immersive Web Working Group.[7][8] While the Community Group works on the proposals in the incubation period, the Working Group defines the final web specifications to be implemented by the browsers.[9][10][11]
WebVR was an experimental Web API that was only capable of representing virtual reality and was superseded by WebXR.[12][13][14]
WebVR API was first conceived in spring 2014 byVladimir Vukićević fromMozilla. The API's contributors include Brandon Jones(Google), Boris Smus and others from the Mozilla team.[15] On March 1, 2016, the Mozilla VR team and theGoogle Chrome team announced the version 1.0 release of the WebVRAPI proposal. The resulting API refactoring brought many improvements to WebVR.[16]
The latest WebXR Device APIWorking Draft was last published in February 2022.[4] The editors of the specification currently are fromGoogle andMeta. Other members fromMozilla,Microsoft,Samsung Electronics andApple, as well as various startups and invited experts have input in the future of the specification.[17] All of the discussions of the specifications are public on GitHub.[18]
Notable updates include enhancedAR capabilities, improved performance, and broader device support.[19] The ongoing efforts focus on standardizing and advancing the WebXR API, providing developers with the necessary tools and resources to createimmersive web experiences.[20]
In 2018, the WebXR Device API superseded WebVR, being designed for both augmented reality, virtual reality devices and the possible future realities and devices.[12][13][21] WebVR was implemented in Firefox and Chromium-based browsers before being deprecated and removed. On September 24, 2018, the Immersive Web Working Group became official.[22]
The WebXR Device API exposes a few new interfaces (such as XRView,[21] XRPose[23]) that allowweb applications to present content in virtual reality and augmented reality, by usingWebGL with the necessary camera settings and device interactions (such as controllers or point of view).
WebXR Device API[24] (Candidate Recommendation Draft) is currently supported in the stable versions of Edge and Chrome 79+, Chrome for Android 79+, Opera 66+, Opera Mobile 64+, Samsung Internet 12+, and Oculus Browser.[25][26] WebXR is supported inSafari for visionOS on theApple Vision Pro mixed reality headset.[27]Android XR also supports WebXR.[citation needed]
Although WebXR is unique as an API, it has similarities to native APIs in the same space such asOpenXR,ARCore, andARKit.
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