Why Without an App?
Downloading an application to experience an AR installation is a major adoption barrier. WebAR solves this: everything happens in the browser.
WebAR Technologies
WebXR Device API: the web standard for AR/VR in the browser. Good Chrome Android support; iOS Safari remains limited.
AR.js: open source, marker-based AR in the browser. Very lightweight, works on almost all mobiles.
8th Wall / Zappar: cloud platforms with advanced WebAR (surface tracking, image recognition, markerless) — paid model but reliable on both iOS and Android.
Three.js + WebXR: richer experiences combining 3D rendering with WebXR.
Known Limits
- Performance: more demanding than native apps on older devices
- iOS/Safari: partial WebXR support — cloud solutions more reliable for iOS
- Persistence: AR objects can drift without LiDAR
- Permissions: camera access request can be refused
Concrete Use Cases
- Museums: scan a collection object to see a 3D reconstruction
- Heritage in situ: point at a wall to see what was there before
- School mediation: QR code on a label triggers AR animation on students' phones
- Cultural e-commerce: see a craft object at real scale in your space
Getting Started
1. Use AR.js (free, open source)
2. Create a simple marker
3. Prepare a lightweight GLTF 3D object
4. Host on HTTPS (required for camera access)
5. Test on Android Chrome first