EaselJS

EaselJS

EaselJS is a JavaScript library for building high-performance interactive 2D content using HTML5 Canvas. It provides an easy-to-use API for animation, interactivity, and graphic design capabilities.
EaselJS image
canvas graphics animation interactivity

EaselJS: JavaScript Library for High-Performance Interactive 2D Content

A powerful tool for building interactive 2D content using HTML5 Canvas, with easy-to-use API for animation, interactivity, and graphic design.

What is EaselJS?

EaselJS is a JavaScript library designed for building high-performance interactive 2D content that works across modern browsers and devices. It is developed and maintained by the CreateJS initiative at Adobe as an open-source tool for creative professionals and developers to build rich media content and applications without plugins.

At its core, EaselJS provides an API wrapper around the HTML5 Canvas element, enabling powerful graphics, animation, and interactivity features with a simple and familiar programming model. It supports vector graphics, bitmaps, text, filters, masking, complex path animations, and more.

Key capabilities and benefits of EaselJS include:

  • High performance graphics rendering and animation using native browser technologies
  • A intuitive display list architecture for nested objects and transformation hierarchies
  • A timeline for sequencing animations and object manipulations
  • Built-in shape and bitmap drawing capabilities with filters and masking
  • Mouse and touch interactions including drag, pointers, and event bubbling
  • Utilities for color manipulation, mathematical operations, and display object caching
  • Integration with other CreateJS libraries like TweenJS and SoundJS

EaselJS makes it easy to build a wide range of highly interactive canvas-based projects, from games and data visualizations to mediarich apps and generative art. It has a growing community behind it and is used by creative agencies, media companies, and developers across the web.

EaselJS Features

Features

  1. Canvas rendering
  2. Shape and bitmap drawing
  3. Built-in shape library
  4. Sprite sheet animation
  5. Mouse and touch interactions
  6. Filters and blend modes
  7. Text and bitmap fonts

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Lightweight and high performance

Cross-browser compatibility

Active development and support

Integrates well with other CreateJS libraries

Open source and free to use

Cons

Limited documentation

Steep learning curve

Not ideal for complex applications

No 3D support


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