A-Frame (virtual reality framework)

{{Short description|Open-source web framework for virtual reality}}

{{Requested move notice|1=A-Frame (extended reality framework)|2=Talk:A-Frame (virtual reality framework)#Requested move 18 April 2025}}

{{Infobox software

| name = A-Frame

| logo = A-Frame logo.png

| developer = Diego Marcos, Don McCurdy, Kevin Ngo

| released = {{Start date and age|2015|12}}

| latest release version = 1.7.0

| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2025|02|20}}{{cite web |title=A-Frame |url=https://github.com/aframevr/aframe/blob/master/CHANGELOG.md |publisher=A-Frame |access-date=27 March 2025 |date=23 February 2025}}

| programming language = JavaScript

| platform = Cross-platform

| genre = JavaScript framework

| license = MIT License

| website = {{URL|https://aframe.io/}}

}}

A-Frame is an open-source web framework, written in JavaScript, for building virtual reality (VR) experiences.{{Cite web| url=https://aframe.io| title=A-Frame| website=A-Frame| access-date=2016-10-25}} It is maintained by developers from Supermedium (Diego Marcos, Kevin Ngo) and Google (Don McCurdy). A-Frame is an entity component system framework for Three.js where developers can create 3D and WebXR scenes using HTML. HTML provides a familiar authoring tool for web developers and designers while incorporating a popular game development pattern used by engines such as Unity.

History

A-Frame was originally developed within the Mozilla VR team during mid-to-late 2015.{{Cite news| url=https://blog.mozvr.com/introducing-aframe/| title=Introducing A-Frame: Building Blocks for WebVR| date=2015-12-16| newspaper=Mozilla VR Blog| access-date=2016-10-26}} A-Frame was created in order to allow web developers and designers to author 3D and VR experiences{{Cite news| url=http://www.roadtovr.com/mozilla-a-frame-webvr-virtual-reality-website-web-development/| title=Mozilla A-Frame: WebVR Starting With One Line of Code| last=Lang| first=Ben| date=2015-12-16| newspaper=Road to VR| language=en-US| access-date=2016-10-25}} with HTML without having to know WebGL.{{Cite web| url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/12/17/mozilla-makes-it-easy-to-create-vr-websites-with-a-frame/| title=Mozilla makes it easy to create VR websites with 'A-Frame'| website=Engadget| date=17 December 2015| access-date=2016-10-25}} A-Frame's first public release was on December 16, 2015.{{Cite news| url=http://www.arvrmagazine.com/mozilla-releases-a-frame-webvr-framework/| title=Mozilla Releases A-Frame WebVR Framework| date=2015-12-18| newspaper=AR VR Magazine| language=en-US| access-date=2016-10-25| archive-date=2017-09-10| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910082602/http://www.arvrmagazine.com/mozilla-releases-a-frame-webvr-framework/| url-status=dead}} On December 16, 2019 A-Frame version 1.0.0 was released.{{cite web |title=A-Frame v1.0.0 - WebXR Support, AR Mode |url=https://aframe.io/blog/aframe-v1.0.0/ |website=A-Frame |accessdate=30 March 2020 |language=en}}

Community

All online IDEs support A-Frame as a result of being based on HTML. Documentation is available for the API.{{Cite web|url=https://aframe.io/docs/0.9.0/introduction/|title=Introduction — A-Frame|website=aframe.io|access-date=2016-10-25}} Support for developers committing to the library is provided via GitHub issues, while support for developers building apps and web pages is provided via StackOverflow.{{Cite web|url=https://stackoverflow.com/questions/tagged/aframe |title=Newest 'aframe' Questions|website=stackoverflow.com|access-date=2016-10-25}} Real-time on-line support is provided via Slack.{{Cite web|url=https://aframe.io/slack|title=Slack|last=Slack|website=aframe.io|access-date=2016-10-25}} Most of the developers are also on Twitter{{Citation needed|date=July 2019}}.

Usage

Mozilla Hubs Chat room software uses A-Frame.{{cite web |title=mozilla/hubs |url=https://github.com/mozilla/hubs |publisher=Mozilla |accessdate=30 March 2020 |date=29 March 2020}}