VRLayerInit

Deprecated: This feature is no longer recommended. Though some browsers might still support it, it may have already been removed from the relevant web standards, may be in the process of being dropped, or may only be kept for compatibility purposes. Avoid using it, and update existing code if possible; see the compatibility table at the bottom of this page to guide your decision. Be aware that this feature may cease to work at any time.

The VRLayerInit dictionary of the WebVR API represents a content layer (an HTMLCanvasElement or OffscreenCanvas) that you want to present in a VR display.

Note: This dictionary was part of the old WebVR API. It has been superseded by the WebXR Device API.

You can retrieve VRLayerInit objects using VRDisplay.getLayers(), and present them using the VRDisplay.requestPresent() method.

Instance properties

VRLayerInit.leftBounds

Defines the left texture bounds of the canvas whose contents will be presented by the VRDisplay.

VRLayerInit.rightBounds

Defines the right texture bounds of the canvas whose contents will be presented by the VRDisplay.

VRLayerInit.source

Defines the canvas whose contents will be presented by the VRDisplay when VRDisplay.submitFrame() is called.

Examples

js
// currently returns an empty array
let layers = vrDisplay.getLayers();

if (navigator.getVRDisplays) {
  console.log("WebVR 1.1 supported");
  // Then get the displays attached to the computer
  navigator.getVRDisplays().then((displays) => {
    // If a display is available, use it to present the scene
    if (displays.length > 0) {
      vrDisplay = displays[0];
      console.log("Display found");
      // Starting the presentation when the button is clicked: It can only be called in response to a user gesture
      btn.addEventListener("click", () => {
        vrDisplay.requestPresent([{ source: canvas }]).then(() => {
          console.log("Presenting to WebVR display");

          // Here it returns an array of VRLayerInit objects
          layers = vrDisplay.getLayers();

          // …
        });
      });
    }
  });
}

VRLayerInit objects look something like this:

js
{
  leftBounds : [/* … */],
  rightBounds: [/* … */],
  source: canvasReference
}

Note: The canvasReference refers to the <canvas> element itself, not the WebGL context associated with the canvas. The other two members are arrays

Specifications

This dictionary was part of the old WebVR API that has been superseded by the WebXR Device API. It is no longer on track to becoming a standard.

Until all browsers have implemented the new WebXR APIs, it is recommended to rely on frameworks, like A-Frame, Babylon.js, or Three.js, or a polyfill, to develop WebXR applications that will work across all browsers. Read Meta's Porting from WebVR to WebXR guide for more information.

See also