VRDisplayCapabilities

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.

Non-standard: This feature is not standardized. We do not recommend using non-standard features in production, as they have limited browser support, and may change or be removed. However, they can be a suitable alternative in specific cases where no standard option exists.

The VRDisplayCapabilities interface of the WebVR API describes the capabilities of a VRDisplay — its features can be used to perform VR device capability tests, for example can it return position information.

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 It has been superseded by the WebXR Device API.

This interface is accessible through the VRDisplay.capabilities property.

Instance properties

VRDisplayCapabilities.canPresent Read only

Returns a boolean value stating whether the VR display is capable of presenting content (e.g., through an HMD).

VRDisplayCapabilities.hasExternalDisplay Read only

Returns a boolean value stating whether the VR display is separate from the device's primary display.

VRDisplayCapabilities.hasOrientation Read only

Returns a boolean value stating whether the VR display can track and return orientation information.

VRDisplayCapabilities.hasPosition Read only

Returns a boolean value stating whether the VR display can track and return position information.

VRDisplayCapabilities.maxLayers Read only

Returns a number indicating the maximum number of VRLayerInits that the VR display can present at once (e.g., the maximum length of the array that VRDisplay.requestPresent() can accept.)

Examples

js
function reportDisplays() {
  navigator.getVRDisplays().then((displays) => {
    displays.forEach((display, i) => {
      const cap = display.capabilities;
      // cap is a VRDisplayCapabilities object
      const listItem = document.createElement("li");
      listItem.innerText = `
VR Display ID: ${display.displayId}
VR Display Name: ${display.displayName}
Display can present content: ${cap.canPresent}
Display is separate from the computer's main display: ${cap.hasExternalDisplay}
Display can return position info: ${cap.hasPosition}
Display can return orientation info: ${cap.hasOrientation}
Display max layers: ${cap.maxLayers}`;
      listItem.insertBefore(
        document.createElement("strong"),
        listItem.firstChild,
      ).textContent = `Display ${i + 1}`;
      list.appendChild(listItem);
    });
  });
}

Specifications

This interface 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.

Browser compatibility

See also