threejs-controls
Addon camera and object manipulation controls: OrbitControls, MapControls, FlyControls, FirstPersonControls, TrackballControls, ArcballControls, DragControls, PointerLockControls, TransformControls; damping, target focal point, and integration with the animation loop. Use for editor-style navigation and gizmos—not a full game character controller stack; pair with Raycaster selection patterns in threejs-objects when transforming selections.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/threejs-controls/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How threejs-controls Compares
| Feature / Agent | threejs-controls | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | multi | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Addon camera and object manipulation controls: OrbitControls, MapControls, FlyControls, FirstPersonControls, TrackballControls, ArcballControls, DragControls, PointerLockControls, TransformControls; damping, target focal point, and integration with the animation loop. Use for editor-style navigation and gizmos—not a full game character controller stack; pair with Raycaster selection patterns in threejs-objects when transforming selections.
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is compatible with multi.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
## When to use this skill
**ALWAYS use this skill when the user mentions:**
- Orbiting/panning/dolly around a target, inertia/damping, min/max distance/polar angles
- Map-like pan (MapControls) or flying (FlyControls)
- Transform gizmo translate/rotate/scale with `TransformControls`
- Dragging objects in plane (DragControls), pointer lock FPS (PointerLockControls)
**IMPORTANT: controls vs webxr**
| Context | Skill |
|---------|--------|
| Desktop/browser camera nav | **threejs-controls** |
| XR controller poses | **threejs-webxr** |
**Trigger phrases include:**
- "OrbitControls", "TransformControls", "MapControls", "PointerLockControls"
- "轨道", "变换控制器", "漫游"
## How to use this skill
1. **Import** from addons path (**threejs-dev-setup**).
2. **Construct** with `(camera, domElement)`; for `TransformControls` also attach to renderer events.
3. **Animation loop**: when `enableDamping`, call `controls.update()` each frame.
4. **TransformControls**: wire `dragging-changed` to disable Orbit temporarily; sync with selection from **threejs-objects**.
5. **Constraints**: set min/max distance/angles to avoid flipping or underground views.
6. **Dispose**: `controls.dispose()` when tearing down.
### Example: OrbitControls with damping
```javascript
import { OrbitControls } from 'three/addons/controls/OrbitControls.js';
const controls = new OrbitControls(camera, renderer.domElement);
controls.enableDamping = true;
controls.dampingFactor = 0.05;
controls.minDistance = 2;
controls.maxDistance = 50;
// Must call update() each frame when damping is enabled
function animate() {
controls.update();
renderer.render(scene, camera);
}
renderer.setAnimationLoop(animate);
```
See [examples/workflow-orbit-damping.md](examples/workflow-orbit-damping.md).
## Doc map (official)
| Docs section | Representative links |
|--------------|----------------------|
| Controls | https://threejs.org/docs/OrbitControls.html |
| Controls | https://threejs.org/docs/TransformControls.html |
| Controls | https://threejs.org/docs/MapControls.html |
| Controls (index) | https://threejs.org/docs/#Controls |
## Scope
- **In scope:** Official addons controls usage patterns.
- **Out of scope:** Full physics character motor; mobile gesture frameworks.
## Common pitfalls and best practices
- Forgetting `update()` with damping enabled causes drift never settling.
- TransformControls fighting with Orbit—pause one while using the other.
- Pointer lock requires user gesture and exit handling.
## Documentation and version
Controls are under [Controls](https://threejs.org/docs/#Controls) (Addons) in [three.js docs](https://threejs.org/docs/). API details (`enableDamping`, events) evolve—link `OrbitControls` / `TransformControls` pages for the user’s three.js version.
## Agent response checklist
When answering under this skill, prefer responses that:
1. Link the specific controls class from the docs.
2. State `controls.update()` when damping is on, every frame.
3. Coordinate `TransformControls` with selection / **threejs-objects** raycasting.
4. Separate desktop navigation from **threejs-webxr** locomotion.
5. Call `dispose()` on controls when unmounting canvas.
## References
- https://threejs.org/docs/#Controls
- https://threejs.org/docs/OrbitControls.html
- https://threejs.org/docs/TransformControls.html
## Keywords
**English:** orbitcontrols, transformcontrols, mapcontrols, damping, camera controls, three.js
**中文:** OrbitControls、轨道、TransformControls、变换控制器、阻尼、three.js