When depth clarifies, how to choose the right tech, and keep 60fps.
Use 3D when depth communicates something text or 2D cannot: placement, scale, or structure. Product try-ons and configurators shine in 3D; analytics dashboards rarely do.
Pick the **lightest** tool that works. CSS transforms for lightweight depth; WebGL (via Three.js/Babylon) for real scenes; WebGPU only for highly parallel effects or complex pipelines.
Define degrees of freedom carefully. Offer snap-to views, clear reset, and contextual help. Constrain the camera; infinite freedom usually equals confusion.
Budget for frame time early. Use GLTF/GLB with KTX2 compressed textures; decimate meshes with DRACO/meshopt. Pre-bake lighting when possible and stream LODs for big models.
Provide keyboard controls and announce critical state changes. Respect prefers-reduced-motion and include textual alternatives for model state.
Test across integrated/discrete GPUs and mobile SOCs. Use frame capture tools to spot hot paths. Take automated scene snapshots to catch visual regressions.