Develop

WebXR overview

Updated: May 11, 2026

This section contains information about developing WebXR experiences for Browser.

WebXR Device API lets you develop immersive VR experiences on the web, and is supported in multiple browsers. For more information, visit the WebXR home page: https://immersiveweb.dev/⁠

The WebXR explainer provides some background and technical information about the design and usage of the WebXR Device API. https://immersive-web.github.io/webxr/explainer.html

WebXR vs native development

WebXR provides a lower barrier to entry compared to native development, but comes with some limitations. The following table summarizes the key differences to help you choose the right approach for your project.

Feature	WebXR	Native (Unity, Unreal, Native SDK)
Distribution	Web URL or PWA via Meta Horizon Store	Meta Horizon Store
Setup required	Browser only, no SDK installation	Engine + Meta XR SDK setup
Rendering performance	Limited by browser overhead	Full GPU access, higher performance ceiling
Hand tracking	Supported via WebXR Hand Input	Full hand tracking with gestures
Passthrough / MR	Supported via WebXR Mixed Reality	Full access to passthrough APIs
Spatial anchors	Not supported	Supported
Scene understanding	Not supported	Full Scene API access
Depth API	Not supported	Supported (Quest 3 and later)
Platform SDK features	Limited (Digital Goods API for IAP)	Full access (achievements, leaderboards, social)
Offline support	Limited (requires service worker)	Full offline capability
Graphics APIs	WebGL 2.0	Vulkan, OpenGL ES
Multi-threaded rendering	Not supported	Supported
File system access	Sandboxed	Full access

WebXR is a good choice for lightweight experiences, prototypes, and content that benefits from web-based distribution. For performance-intensive apps, apps requiring deep platform integration, or apps that use spatial computing features like Scene API or Depth API, native development is recommended.

Topic	Description
WebXR Development Flow	Tools and guidance on how the WebXR development process works
VR Best Practices	Pointers to general VR best practices that are relevant to WebXR
WebXR Layers	How to use compositor layers for high-quality, high-performance display of media in WebXR
Hand Tracking	How to use hand-tracking in a WebXR experience
Mixed Reality Support in Browser	Describes Browser support for WebXR Mixed Reality services
System Keyboard in WebXR	How to use the system keyboard integration in WebXR with Browser
Performance Optimization	Guidance to ensure that your WebXR experience runs smoothly on Browser
Porting WebVR to WebXR	Describes how to migrate legacy WebVR content to WebXR enabled
Distribute your app	Describes how to distribute your WebXR app on the Meta Horizon Store

WebXR overview

WebXR vs native development

Topic guide