GUI callbacks

Attach event handlers to GUI elements for real-time interaction.

This example demonstrates how to create responsive interfaces using GUI callbacks. Callbacks are functions that execute automatically when users interact with controls, enabling real-time updates to the 3D scene.

Key callback methods:

• viser.GuiInputHandle.on_update() for input changes (sliders, dropdowns, checkboxes)

• viser.GuiButtonHandle.on_click() for button press events

• viser.GuiUploadButtonHandle.on_upload() for file upload events

Features demonstrated:

• Dynamic scene updates using viser.SceneApi.add_grid() and viser.SceneApi.add_point_cloud()

• Conditional GUI state changes (dynamically updating dropdown options)

• Global scene visibility control with viser.SceneApi.set_global_visibility()

• Coordinated updates where multiple controls affect the same scene objects

The pattern shown here—connecting GUI controls to scene updates via callbacks—is fundamental for building interactive 3D applications with viser.

Source: examples/02_gui/01_callbacks.py

Code

import time

import numpy as np
from typing_extensions import assert_never

import viser


def main() -> None:
    server = viser.ViserServer()

    gui_reset_scene_click = server.gui.add_button("Reset Scene on Click")

    gui_reset_scene_hold = server.gui.add_button("Reset Scene on Hold")

    gui_plane = server.gui.add_dropdown(
        "Grid plane", ("xz", "xy", "yx", "yz", "zx", "zy")
    )

    def update_plane() -> None:
        server.scene.add_grid("/grid", width=10.0, height=20.0, plane=gui_plane.value)

    gui_plane.on_update(lambda _: update_plane())

    with server.gui.add_folder("Control"):
        gui_show_frame = server.gui.add_checkbox("Show Frame", initial_value=True)
        gui_show_everything = server.gui.add_checkbox(
            "Show Everything", initial_value=True
        )
        gui_axis = server.gui.add_dropdown("Axis", ("x", "y", "z"))
        gui_include_z = server.gui.add_checkbox("Z in dropdown", initial_value=True)

        @gui_include_z.on_update
        def _(_) -> None:
            gui_axis.options = ("x", "y", "z") if gui_include_z.value else ("x", "y")

        with server.gui.add_folder("Sliders"):
            gui_location = server.gui.add_slider(
                "Location", min=-5.0, max=5.0, step=0.05, initial_value=0.0
            )
            gui_num_points = server.gui.add_slider(
                "# Points", min=1000, max=200_000, step=1000, initial_value=10_000
            )

    def draw_frame() -> None:
        axis = gui_axis.value
        if axis == "x":
            pos = (gui_location.value, 0.0, 0.0)
        elif axis == "y":
            pos = (0.0, gui_location.value, 0.0)
        elif axis == "z":
            pos = (0.0, 0.0, gui_location.value)
        else:
            assert_never(axis)

        server.scene.add_frame(
            "/frame",
            wxyz=(1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 0.0),
            position=pos,
            show_axes=gui_show_frame.value,
            axes_length=5.0,
        )

    def draw_points() -> None:
        num_points = gui_num_points.value
        server.scene.add_point_cloud(
            "/frame/point_cloud",
            points=np.random.normal(size=(num_points, 3)),
            colors=np.random.randint(0, 256, size=(num_points, 3)),
        )

    # We can (optionally) also attach callbacks!
    # Here, we update the point clouds + frames whenever any of the GUI items are updated.
    gui_show_frame.on_update(lambda _: draw_frame())
    gui_show_everything.on_update(
        lambda _: server.scene.set_global_visibility(gui_show_everything.value)
    )
    gui_axis.on_update(lambda _: draw_frame())
    gui_location.on_update(lambda _: draw_frame())
    gui_num_points.on_update(lambda _: draw_points())

    @gui_reset_scene_click.on_click
    def _(_) -> None:
        gui_show_frame.value = True
        gui_location.value = 0.0
        gui_axis.value = "x"
        gui_num_points.value = 10_000

        draw_frame()
        draw_points()

    @gui_reset_scene_hold.on_hold
    def _(_) -> None:
        gui_show_frame.value = True
        gui_location.value = 0.0
        gui_axis.value = "x"
        gui_num_points.value = 10_000

        draw_frame()
        draw_points()

    # Finally, let's add the initial frame + point cloud and just loop infinitely. :)
    update_plane()
    draw_frame()
    draw_points()
    while True:
        time.sleep(1.0)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()