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AR.js

A JavaScript library for marker-based and location-based augmented reality in web pages.

GitHub Download source
Stars
15.8k
Forks
2.2k
Licence
MIT
Language
HTML
Last update
3.9 years ago
Type
Library

No commits in over a year — check for forks or alternatives before adopting.

What it is

AR.js is a free, open-source JavaScript library for adding augmented reality to web pages, so that virtual objects appear over a phone or laptop camera view. The README describes it as supporting marker-based and location-based AR. It is typically used together with web 3D tools such as A-Frame and Three.js, which are listed as topics of the project. The README also says the project has moved to a new GitHub organization, and this copy will no longer be updated.

  • Show a 3D object when a camera sees a printed marker
  • Place virtual content at a real-world location in a web page
  • Build a browser-based AR demo for a product or event

Great for

  • Developers who want to add simple AR experiences to a website
  • Teams already using A-Frame or Three.js who want AR in the browser
  • People building marker-based AR demos that run without a native app
  • Developers who need location-based AR features in a web page

Not ideal for

  • Anyone who needs the actively maintained version, because the README says this repository will not be updated and points to a new repository
  • Projects needing image tracking from this repo, since the README says that feature is on the new repository
  • Non-developers looking for a ready-made app, since this is a code library
Step-by-step guide: how to use AR.jsInstall, first run, examples, tips and FAQs
A-Frame vs AR.jsAR.js vs three.js

How to get it

  1. 1

    See the README

    You'll need: Web browser with camera access · Basic knowledge of HTML and JavaScript

    Clone the repository

    git clone https://github.com/jeromeetienne/AR.js
  2. 2

    Run it

    • Clone the repository or switch to the maintained repository at https://github.com/AR-js-org/AR.js
    • Read the README in the repository for usage examples
    • Open an example page in a browser that allows camera access
  3. 3

    Get the most out of it

    • Check the new repository at https://github.com/AR-js-org/AR.js for the maintained version and Image Tracking
    • Pair the library with A-Frame or Three.js, as the project topics suggest
    • Review the LICENSE.txt file before reusing the code

Downloads

Source code (.zip)master branch · straight from GitHub

Strengths

  • Open source under the MIT license
  • Designed for browsers, so users do not need to install a native app, per the description
  • Supports both marker-based and location-based AR, according to the README

Trade-offs

  • The README says this repository is no longer updated and development has moved elsewhere
  • The last push in the provided metadata is from December 2022, so the code may be out of date
  • Setup details and examples are not included in the truncated README, so the exact steps are unclear

How it compares

ProjectStarsTypeLevelUpdatedBest for
AR.js (this)15.8kLibraryintermediate3.9 years agoDevelopers who want to add simple AR experiences to a website
aframe17.7kLibrarybeginner4 months agoWeb developers who want to add 3D or VR scenes to a website
three.js117kLibraryintermediate4 days agoWeb developers adding interactive 3D graphics to a website

Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.