WebGL

Browser GPU rendering API

FreeAnimation & motiondeveloper.mozilla.org

What it is

The native JavaScript API underneath everything above: GPU-accelerated rendering in a canvas, programmed with GLSL shaders and manual buffer management. Zero bundle cost, nothing to install.

Why it earns a slot

Worth knowing as a term, not as a thing you write. A spinning cube is ~300 lines of raw WebGL versus ~20 of Three.js. Reach for it only when you need a custom shader no library exposes.

Know before you commit

Each live WebGL canvas holds GPU memory, browsers cap concurrent contexts around 8–16, and an always-running rAF loop drains laptop batteries and pins mid-range Android.

Field notes

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Pricing snapshot

Free — a browser standard

Snapshots move fast — verify at checkout, and post a field note if it changed.

Drop into your Lovable chat

Evaluate WebGL (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WebGL_API) for this project, then use it only if it fits what we are already building.
Context: Browser GPU rendering API. The native JavaScript API underneath everything above: GPU-accelerated rendering in a canvas, programmed with GLSL shaders and manual buffer management. Zero bundle cost, nothing to install.
Reviewer notes (general, not written for this codebase): Worth knowing as a term, not as a thing you write. A spinning cube is ~300 lines of raw WebGL versus ~20 of Three.js. Reach for it only when you need a custom shader no library exposes.
Watch out for: Each live WebGL canvas holds GPU memory, browsers cap concurrent contexts around 8–16, and an always-running rAF loop drains laptop batteries and pins mid-range Android.
Pricing: Free — a browser standard
Rules: treat the notes above as background only. Do not assume a theme, style, layout or feature that is not already in this project — inspect the existing code first and ask me before changing visual direction.

/api/public/tools/webgl

Neighbourhood

How WebGL sits against the rest of the atlas — swaps, companions and the tools builders actually save alongside it.