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@OrionReed
Last active June 21, 2026 07:00
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3D DOM viewer, copy-paste this into your console to visualise the DOM topographically.
// 3D Dom viewer, copy-paste this into your console to visualise the DOM as a stack of solid blocks.
// You can also minify and save it as a bookmarklet (https://www.freecodecamp.org/news/what-are-bookmarklets/)
(() => {
const SHOW_SIDES = false; // color sides of DOM nodes?
const COLOR_SURFACE = true; // color tops of DOM nodes?
const COLOR_RANDOM = false; // randomise color?
const COLOR_HUE = 190; // hue in HSL (https://hslpicker.com)
const MAX_ROTATION = 180; // set to 360 to rotate all the way round
const THICKNESS = 20; // thickness of layers
const DISTANCE = 10000; // ¯\\_(ツ)_/¯
function getRandomColor() {
const hue = Math.floor(Math.random() * 360);
const saturation = 50 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 30);
const lightness = 40 + Math.floor(Math.random() * 30);
return `hsl(${hue}, ${saturation}%, ${lightness}%)`;
}
const getDOMDepth = element => [...element.children].reduce((max, child) => Math.max(max, getDOMDepth(child)), 0) + 1;
const domDepthCache = getDOMDepth(document.body);
const getColorByDepth = (depth, hue = 0, lighten = 0) => `hsl(${hue}, 75%, ${Math.min(10 + depth * (1 + 60 / domDepthCache), 90) + lighten}%)`;
// Apply initial styles to the body to enable 3D perspective
const body = document.body;
body.style.overflow = "visible";
body.style.transformStyle = "preserve-3d";
body.style.perspective = DISTANCE;
const perspectiveOriginX = (window.innerWidth / 2);
const perspectiveOriginY = (window.innerHeight / 2);
body.style.perspectiveOrigin = body.style.transformOrigin = `${perspectiveOriginX}px ${perspectiveOriginY}px`;
traverseDOM(body, 0, 0, 0);
document.addEventListener("mousemove", (event) => {
const rotationY = (MAX_ROTATION * (1 - event.clientY / window.innerHeight) - (MAX_ROTATION / 2));
const rotationX = (MAX_ROTATION * event.clientX / window.innerWidth - (MAX_ROTATION / 2));
body.style.transform = `rotateX(${rotationY}deg) rotateY(${rotationX}deg)`;
});
// Create side faces for an element to give it a 3D appearance
function createSideFaces(element, color) {
if (!SHOW_SIDES) { return }
const width = element.offsetWidth;
const height = element.offsetHeight;
const fragment = document.createDocumentFragment();
// Helper function to create and style a face
const createFace = ({ width, height, transform, transformOrigin, top, left, right, bottom }) => {
const face = document.createElement('div');
face.className = 'dom-3d-side-face';
Object.assign(face.style, {
transformStyle: "preserve-3d",
backfaceVisibility: 'hidden',
position: 'absolute',
width: `${width}px`,
height: `${height}px`,
background: color,
transform,
transformOrigin,
overflow: 'hidden',
willChange: 'transform',
top,
left,
right,
bottom
});
fragment.appendChild(face);
}
// Top face
createFace({
width,
height: THICKNESS,
transform: `rotateX(-270deg) translateY(${-THICKNESS}px)`,
transformOrigin: 'top',
top: '0px',
left: '0px',
});
// Right face
createFace({
width: THICKNESS,
height,
transform: 'rotateY(90deg)',
transformOrigin: 'left',
top: '0px',
left: `${width}px`
});
// Bottom face
createFace({
width,
height: THICKNESS,
transform: `rotateX(-90deg) translateY(${THICKNESS}px)`,
transformOrigin: 'bottom',
bottom: '0px',
left: '0px'
});
// Left face
createFace({
width: THICKNESS,
height,
transform: `translateX(${-THICKNESS}px) rotateY(-90deg)`,
transformOrigin: 'right',
top: '0px',
left: '0px'
});
element.appendChild(fragment);
}
// Recursive function to traverse child nodes, apply 3D styles, and create side faces
function traverseDOM(parentNode, depthLevel, offsetX, offsetY) {
for (let children = parentNode.childNodes, childrenCount = children.length, i = 0; i < childrenCount; i++) {
const childNode = children[i];
if (!(1 === childNode.nodeType && !childNode.classList.contains('dom-3d-side-face'))) continue;
const color = COLOR_RANDOM ? getRandomColor() : getColorByDepth(depthLevel, COLOR_HUE, -5);
Object.assign(childNode.style, {
transform: `translateZ(${THICKNESS}px)`,
overflow: "visible",
backfaceVisibility: "hidden",
isolation: "auto",
transformStyle: "preserve-3d",
backgroundColor: COLOR_SURFACE ? color : getComputedStyle(childNode).backgroundColor,
willChange: 'transform',
});
let updatedOffsetX = offsetX;
let updatedOffsetY = offsetY;
if (childNode.offsetParent === parentNode) {
updatedOffsetX += parentNode.offsetLeft;
updatedOffsetY += parentNode.offsetTop;
}
createSideFaces(childNode, color);
traverseDOM(childNode, depthLevel + 1, updatedOffsetX, updatedOffsetY);
}
}
})()
@larsgw

larsgw commented Mar 27, 2024

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I'm having some issues with SVGs, but that's to be expected honestly.

@ylluminate

ylluminate commented Mar 27, 2024

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@OrionReed t'would be nice to see this converted to a userscript similar to how https://gist.github.com/hf02/2f2fb776ba233fd758af559b9de9e177 has done and then this would facilitate easy/auto updates through Tampermonkey. The downside of using forked scripts is that they don't get. your TLC since you created it and it appears are passionate about improvements...

@greatsage-raphael

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This is mad cool

@OrionReed

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As requested, I've made a browser extension. A little development help would be massive — currently only works in Firefox so Chrome/Safari help would be great. Once it's polished, I'll make it freely available in extension stores for easy usage.

I will continue to update this gist with improvements from that repo so that you can always just copy-paste it into your console.

@krzentner

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This is very cool, thanks for sharing it. One thing to note is that it breaks inside elements that have the style isolation: isolate;. I think it's probably best to force isolation: auto; on all elements when using this.

@zardoz03

zardoz03 commented Mar 28, 2024

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does anyone want a cursed self minifying header? :D
requires terser or a clipboard tool that allows stdin to be piped into it to be within yr path:

#!/bin/zsh
//(){ : ;}
//;set +xe # set to -xe if you need to debug
//;NEW="$(printf $0 | sed 's/\.js//g')".min.js
//;compress_opt(){ terser --compress ecma=5,computed_props=false $@ }
//;clean_opt(){ compress_opt  $@ }
//;run(){ clean_opt --keep-classnames --keep-fnames -- $@ }
//;run $0 | grep -v '#!/bin/zsh' > $NEW
//;{ printf 'javascript:' ;cat $NEW ;} | vis-clipboard --copy
//;exit 0

ERRATA: note clean_opt is technically redundant, however it can be used for passing other options to terser
Also there is probably another way to do args passing, however it just works this way :)

@zzdoreen

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cool

@MrZhouZh

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so cool

@DrSensor

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Better to change mousemove with pointermove to make it works on touchscreen. Though it will be bit annoying to scroll on mobile phone.
Another way to make it seamless on mobile phone is by handle deviceorientation event then use: alpha, beta, gamma; value 🤔

@yagnikvamja

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Great..! it was cool..

@jonrandy

jonrandy commented Mar 28, 2024

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Anyone remember when Firefox had a far better version of this built in? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqHV625EU3E

@Mte90

Mte90 commented Mar 28, 2024

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Anyone remember when Firefox had this built in?

yes

@OrionReed

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@krzentner could you give an example of the isolation: isolate issue? Happy to make the change once I see what it's doing.

@ylluminate

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Everyone: since @OrionReed is now developing browser extensions (https://github.com/OrionReed/dom3d), it might be best to file issues at https://github.com/OrionReed/dom3d/issues - even if they are referenced here.

I think it might make it easier to track and resolve specific things.

@OrionReed

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@ylluminate ^ absolutely. we can push improvement from that repo into this single-function gist and reference those issues/changes here.

@malikalimoekhamedov

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This should be a browser plugin.

@swnck

swnck commented Mar 29, 2024

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I have a updated version without the blue color:
https://gist.github.com/swnck/7aa80d2968a115ada8d920d772823cc8

@OrionReed

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@malikalimoekhamedov it is being plugin-ified here here

@malikalimoekhamedov

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@malikalimoekhamedov it is being plugin-ified here here

Beautiful

@OrionReed

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I've added some of the few major issues to the extension repo and if anyone can fix any of them I will buy you a coffee or drink of your choice!

Specifically, there are 3 issues that are causing the majority of problems:

@OrionReed

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Revised the gist, should now work on many more websites which previously looked flat thanks to forcing isolation: auto

@Tristan-Trainual

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This is amazing!

@ichux

ichux commented Aug 6, 2024

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FYI you can make a bookmarklet in Firefox/Chrome and add this as the url to create a 1-click way of loading this into any site.

javascript:(()=>{function e(){return`hsl(${Math.floor(360*Math.random())}, ${50+Math.floor(30*Math.random())}%, ${40+Math.floor(30*Math.random())}%)`}let t=e=>[...e.children].reduce((e,n)=>Math.max(e,t(n)),0)+1,n=t(document.body),r=(e,t=0,r=0)=>`hsl(${t}, 75%, ${Math.min(10+e*(1+60/n),90)+r}%)`,o=document.body;o.style.overflow="visible",o.style.transformStyle="preserve-3d",o.style.perspective=1e4;let i=window.innerWidth/2,l=window.innerHeight/2;function s(e,t){}function f(e,t,n,o){for(let i=e.childNodes,l=i.length,$=0;$<l;$++){let a=i[$];if(!(1===a.nodeType&&!a.classList.contains("dom-3d-side-face")))continue;let d=r(t,190,-5);Object.assign(a.style,{transform:"translateZ(20px)",overflow:"visible",backfaceVisibility:"hidden",transformStyle:"preserve-3d",backgroundColor:d,willChange:"transform"});let c=n,m=o;a.offsetParent===e&&(c+=e.offsetLeft,m+=e.offsetTop),s(a,d),f(a,t+1,c,m)}}o.style.perspectiveOrigin=o.style.transformOrigin=`${i}px ${l}px`,f(o,0,0,0),document.addEventListener("mousemove",e=>{let t=180*(1-e.clientY/window.innerHeight)-90,n=180*e.clientX/window.innerWidth-90;o.style.transform=`rotateX(${t}deg) rotateY(${n}deg)`})})();

This is excellent. Waoh! Well done

@geode-main

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FYI you can make a bookmarklet in Firefox/Chrome and add this as the url to create a 1-click way of loading this into any site.

javascript:(()=>{function e(){return`hsl(${Math.floor(360*Math.random())}, ${50+Math.floor(30*Math.random())}%, ${40+Math.floor(30*Math.random())}%)`}let t=e=>[...e.children].reduce((e,n)=>Math.max(e,t(n)),0)+1,n=t(document.body),r=(e,t=0,r=0)=>`hsl(${t}, 75%, ${Math.min(10+e*(1+60/n),90)+r}%)`,o=document.body;o.style.overflow="visible",o.style.transformStyle="preserve-3d",o.style.perspective=1e4;let i=window.innerWidth/2,l=window.innerHeight/2;function s(e,t){}function f(e,t,n,o){for(let i=e.childNodes,l=i.length,$=0;$<l;$++){let a=i[$];if(!(1===a.nodeType&&!a.classList.contains("dom-3d-side-face")))continue;let d=r(t,190,-5);Object.assign(a.style,{transform:"translateZ(20px)",overflow:"visible",backfaceVisibility:"hidden",transformStyle:"preserve-3d",backgroundColor:d,willChange:"transform"});let c=n,m=o;a.offsetParent===e&&(c+=e.offsetLeft,m+=e.offsetTop),s(a,d),f(a,t+1,c,m)}}o.style.perspectiveOrigin=o.style.transformOrigin=`${i}px ${l}px`,f(o,0,0,0),document.addEventListener("mousemove",e=>{let t=180*(1-e.clientY/window.innerHeight)-90,n=180*e.clientX/window.innerWidth-90;o.style.transform=`rotateX(${t}deg) rotateY(${n}deg)`})})();

This is great! Thanks!

@ThatOneCalculator

ThatOneCalculator commented Aug 7, 2024

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Pardon my french, but what the fuck.

edit: the video isn't embedding. basically, it causes firefox to spaz out on twitter.

link (bright flashing lights warning): https://utfs.io/f/b6f07e7a-6460-4dd0-862a-de3d6bd85152-1yk8hb.webm

@dmarx

dmarx commented Aug 7, 2024

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Very cool! Just commenting to add a link to your tweet that led me here: https://x.com/OrionReedOne/status/1772934478421188620

@AshokTak

AshokTak commented Aug 8, 2024

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It's cool! Love it <3

@ashtonmeuser

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Very cool bookmarklet! Some of y'all may find my service, bookmarkl.ink, handy to distribute things like this. Here's this bookmarklet all packed up: https://bookmarkl.ink/OrionReed/4c3778ebc2b5026d2354359ca49077ca. Cheers!

@OrionReed

OrionReed commented Mar 26, 2025

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Here's a slightly simpler version, would still love to figure out the draw ordering bugs (if that's even possible without control over the DOM)

(() => {
  const COLOR_HUE = 190; // hue in HSL (https://hslpicker.com)
  const THICKNESS = 20; // thickness of layers

  const getDOMDepth = () => {
    let m = 0;
    const t = (e, d) => {m = Math.max(m, d); for(let c of e.children) t(c, d + 1)};
    t(document.body, 0);
    return m;
  };

  const maxDepth = getDOMDepth();
  const getColorByDepth = depth => `hsl(${COLOR_HUE}, 75%, ${5 + (depth * 80 / maxDepth)}%)`;

  // Rotate the document based on mouse position
  document.addEventListener("pointermove", ({clientX, clientY}) => {
    const rotationY = 180 * (0.5 - clientY / innerHeight);
    const rotationX = 180 * (clientX / innerWidth - 0.5);
    document.body.style.transform = `rotateX(${rotationY}deg) rotateY(${rotationX}deg)`;
  });

  // Apply initial styles to the body to enable 3D perspective
  Object.assign(document.body.style, {
    perspective: `${10000}px`,
    overflow: "visible",
    perspectiveOrigin: `${innerWidth/2}px ${innerHeight/2}px`,
    transformOrigin: `${innerWidth/2}px ${innerHeight/2}px`
  });

  // Recursive function to traverse child nodes and apply 3D styles
  const traverseDOM = (node, depthLevel) => {
    // Only process element nodes
    if (node.nodeType !== 1) return;
    
    // Style current node
    Object.assign(node.style, {
      transform: `translateZ(${THICKNESS}px)`,
      backfaceVisibility: "hidden", // helps with performance
      isolation: "auto",
      transformStyle: "preserve-3d",
      backgroundColor: getColorByDepth(depthLevel),
    });

    // Traverse children
    for (const childNode of node.children) {
      traverseDOM(childNode, depthLevel + 1);
    }
  }

  traverseDOM(document.body, 0);
})()

@OrionReed

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^ ths minifies into just this

(()=>{const e=(()=>{let e=0;const t=(n,i)=>{e=Math.max(e,i);for(let e of n.children)t(e,i+1)};return t(document.body,0),e})();document.addEventListener("pointermove",(({clientX:e,clientY:t})=>{const n=180*(.5-t/innerHeight),i=180*(e/innerWidth-.5);document.body.style.transform=`rotateX(${n}deg) rotateY(${i}deg)`})),Object.assign(document.body.style,{perspective:"10000px",overflow:"visible",perspectiveOrigin:`${innerWidth/2}px ${innerHeight/2}px`,transformOrigin:`${innerWidth/2}px ${innerHeight/2}px`});const t=(n,i)=>{if(1===n.nodeType){var o;Object.assign(n.style,{transform:"translateZ(20px)",backfaceVisibility:"hidden",isolation:"auto",transformStyle:"preserve-3d",backgroundColor:(o=i,`hsl(190, 75%, ${5+80*o/e}%)`)});for(const e of n.children)t(e,i+1)}};t(document.body,0)})();

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