Visualizing Graphs in 3D with G3D

🌐 Introducing G3D — 3D Graph Visualizations in the Browser

I’ve started playing with G3D, a browser-based tool for visualizing graph data structures in 3D. Built on top of Three.js, it makes loading, exploring, and interacting with node‑and‑edge datasets easy and engaging—all without needing back-end modifications.

🧱 What G3D Brings to the Table

  • 3D graph scenes out of the box: Drop in your JSON or graph data, and instantly get a navigable 3D visualization.
  • Interactive nodes and edges: Hovering, zooming, rotating, and clicking let you explore network structures naturally.
  • Embeddable visuals: Include G3D views in any other pages or apps.

A 3D graph network in browser, nodes clustered and highlighted on hover

Above: A network view rendered in 3D, responding to mouse hover and zoom—nodes expand and edges get highlighted.

🧠 Why I Built It

I wanted something spatial, intuitive, and visually immersive. G3D lets me treat graph structures as tangible 3D objects with minimal setup. It’s also experimental—APIs and visuals may evolve. But even in this state, G3D is great for quickly prototyping interactive graph demos.

🎨 Visual Ideas to Try

  1. Force-Directed Graph: Display social or network data, where clusters settle into 3D space.
  2. Hierarchical Tree in 3D: Represent parent-child structures radiating outward.
  3. Time-Sliced Views: Animate transitions to show graph growth or evolution.
  4. Node Positioning Algorithm: Nodes are positioned very haphazardly right now. Would be good to make this something better.

Each of these might be just a few lines to set up, and the possibilities looks promising.

⚠️ Still a Work in Progress

G3D is actively evolving, so expect adjustments to APIs or behaviors. Some layout options or interaction modes might change. But it’s already stable enough for lightweight demos and visual experiments.

G3D is open-source and ready to test on the web. If you’re visualizing graph data and want more spatial depth—or simply want to explore 3D in-browser graphics—it’s worth a look.

Take it for a spin, and let me know what kinds of graph visualizations you’re building with it!