Matter.js
A JavaScript library for simulating 2D solid objects that collide, bounce and stack in the browser.
- Stars
- 18.6k
- Forks
- 2k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- JavaScript
- Last update
- 1 months ago
- Type
- Library
What it is
Matter.js is a JavaScript library that simulates how flat (2D) solid objects move, collide, bounce and rest on each other, such as boxes falling onto a pile or balls rolling down a ramp. Developers add it to a web page to make interactive scenes, games or animations feel physical. It runs in browsers and in Node.js, and the README describes it as an original implementation rather than a port of another engine.
- Create a stack of boxes that collides and comes to rest realistically
- Build a slingshot or catapult game using constraints and collision events
- Add raycasting or region queries to detect what is under the cursor
- Run a physics simulation in Node.js without a browser
Great for
- Web developers adding physics-based motion to a canvas or web page
- Hobbyists building small 2D browser games or interactive demos
- Students learning how rigid body physics works in code
- Developers who need a lightweight 2D engine with no native dependencies
Not ideal for
- People needing 3D physics, since the README describes only a 2D engine
- Projects requiring highly realistic soft materials or fluids, as the feature list centers on rigid bodies
- Non-programmers looking for a ready-made app, since it is a library to write code with
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js (for npm install) or a web page that can load a script file
Install via npm
npm install matter-js - 2
Run it
- Install the package with npm install matter-js or include the matter.js script in a web page
- Open the Getting started wiki page for a minimal usage example
- Create an engine, add bodies to the world, and run the update loop
- Open one of the linked demos to see the engine in action
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Browse the examples directory, which contains the source for all demos
- Use the Plugins section and the list of plugins to extend the engine
- Use MatterTools, linked in the README, to create, test and debug worlds
- Use World state serialisation with resurrect.js if you need to save and restore a scene
Downloads
Strengths
- MIT licensed and free to use in commercial and personal projects
- Broad feature set including constraints, collision events, sleeping bodies and time scaling
- Large set of published demos and examples to learn from
Trade-offs
- Limited to 2D physics according to the README
- The README notes bundler configs such as Webpack and Vue watchers can slow performance in development
- The README lists no formal release version, so you rely on the master branch or tags
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| matter-js (this) | 18.6k | Library | intermediate | 1 months ago | Web developers adding physics-based motion to a canvas or web page |
| JoltPhysics | 12.1k | Library | advanced | 5 days ago | C++ game developers who need a physics engine for rigid bodies and collisions |
| three.js | 117k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Web developers adding interactive 3D graphics to a website |
| pixijs | 48.6k | Library | intermediate | 7 days ago | Web developers building interactive 2D graphics or animations |
| anime | 74.2k | Library | beginner | 3 months ago | Front-end developers adding motion to websites or web apps |
| Chart.js | 67.8k | Library | intermediate | 14 days ago | Web developers adding standard charts such as line or bar charts to a site |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.