JavaScripting

The definitive source of the best
JavaScript libraries, frameworks, and plugins.


  • ×

    A lightweight 3D physics engine written in JavaScript.
    Filed under  › 

    • 🔾63%Overall
    • 4,580
    • 33.4 days
    • 🕩691
    • 👥6

    cannon.js

    Lightweight 3D physics for the web

    Inspired by three.js and ammo.js, and driven by the fact that the web lacks a physics engine, here comes cannon.js. The rigid body physics engine includes simple collision detection, various body shapes, contacts, friction and constraints.

    Demos - Documentation - Rendering hints - NPM package - CDN

    Browser install

    Just include cannon.js or cannon.min.js in your html and you're done:

    <script src="cannon.min.js"></script>
    

    Node.js install

    Install the cannon package via NPM:

    npm install --save cannon
    

    Alternatively, point to the Github repo directly to get the very latest version:

    npm install --save schteppe/cannon.js
    

    Example

    The sample code below creates a sphere on a plane, steps the simulation, and prints the sphere simulation to the console. Note that Cannon.js uses SI units (metre, kilogram, second, etc.).

    // Setup our world
    var world = new CANNON.World();
    world.gravity.set(0, 0, -9.82); // m/s²
    
    // Create a sphere
    var radius = 1; // m
    var sphereBody = new CANNON.Body({
       mass: 5, // kg
       position: new CANNON.Vec3(0, 0, 10), // m
       shape: new CANNON.Sphere(radius)
    });
    world.addBody(sphereBody);
    
    // Create a plane
    var groundBody = new CANNON.Body({
        mass: 0 // mass == 0 makes the body static
    });
    var groundShape = new CANNON.Plane();
    groundBody.addShape(groundShape);
    world.addBody(groundBody);
    
    var fixedTimeStep = 1.0 / 60.0; // seconds
    var maxSubSteps = 3;
    
    // Start the simulation loop
    var lastTime;
    (function simloop(time){
      requestAnimationFrame(simloop);
      if(lastTime !== undefined){
         var dt = (time - lastTime) / 1000;
         world.step(fixedTimeStep, dt, maxSubSteps);
      }
      console.log("Sphere z position: " + sphereBody.position.z);
      lastTime = time;
    })();
    

    If you want to know how to use cannon.js with a rendering engine, for example Three.js, see the Examples.

    Features

    • Rigid body dynamics
    • Discrete collision detection
    • Contacts, friction and restitution
    • Constraints
      • PointToPoint (a.k.a. ball/socket joint)
      • Distance
      • Hinge (with optional motor)
      • Lock
      • ConeTwist
    • Gauss-Seidel constraint solver and an island split algorithm
    • Collision filters
    • Body sleeping
    • Experimental SPH / fluid support
    • Various shapes and collision algorithms (see table below)
    Sphere Plane Box Convex Particle Heightfield Trimesh
    Sphere Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
    Plane - - Yes Yes Yes - Yes
    Box - - Yes Yes Yes Yes (todo)
    Cylinder - - Yes Yes Yes Yes (todo)
    Convex - - - Yes Yes Yes (todo)
    Particle - - - - - (todo) (todo)
    Heightfield - - - - - - (todo)
    Trimesh - - - - - - -

    Todo

    The simpler todos are marked with @todo in the code. Github Issues can and should also be used for todos.

    Help

    Create an issue if you need help.

    Show All