# CesiumJS

> JavaScript library for 3D globes and maps

**Wikidata**: [Q116465523](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q116465523)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/cesiumjs

## Summary
CesiumJS is a JavaScript library used for creating 3D globes and 2D maps in web browsers. It allows developers to visualize and interact with geospatial data, such as terrain, imagery, and 3D models, in a high-performance, time-dynamic environment.

## Key Facts
- **Description**: JavaScript library for 3D globes and maps.
- **Aliases**: Also known as "Cesium".
- **License**: Apache Software License 2.0.
- **Instance Of**: Software.
- **Developer**: Patrick Cozzi and Cesium.
- **Website**: `https://cesium.com/cesiumjs/`
- **Source Code Repository**: `https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium` (on GitHub).
- **Etymology**: Named after "caesium" and "Q2005" (a Wikidata entity, likely referring to the element or a related concept).
- **Latest Stable Version**: 1.136 (released December 1, 2025).

## FAQs
### Q: What is CesiumJS used for?
A: CesiumJS is a JavaScript library for creating 3D globes and 2D maps. It enables the visualization of geospatial data, including terrain, imagery, and 3D models, on the web.

### Q: Who develops CesiumJS?
A: CesiumJS is developed by Patrick Cozzi and the organization Cesium.

### Q: Under what license is CesiumJS released?
A: CesiumJS is released under the Apache Software License 2.0.

### Q: Where can I find the source code for CesiumJS?
A: The source code is hosted on GitHub at `https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium`.

## Why It Matters
CesiumJS provides a powerful, open-source platform for creating dynamic, time-varying 3D geospatial visualizations on the web. By leveraging WebGL, it allows for the high-performance rendering of massive datasets, enabling users to stream and interact with global-scale terrain, imagery, and 3D models directly in a browser. This capability makes it a crucial tool for industries requiring sophisticated map and globe visualizations, such as defense, aerospace, urban planning, and GIS analysis.

## Notable For
- **High-Performance 3D Geospatial Visualization**: A leading JavaScript library for creating time-dynamic 3D globes and maps using WebGL.
- **Open Source Core**: The core library is available under the permissive Apache 2.0 license, fostering wide adoption and community contribution.
- **Long-Term Active Development**: The project has a long history of consistent monthly releases, with versions dating back to at least 2017 and planned releases extending into late 2025.

## Body
### Definition and Classification
CesiumJS is formally defined as a JavaScript library for creating 3D globes and maps. It is classified as a type of software, specifically a non-tangible executable component of a computer system. As software, it consists of computer programs and data that function as a tool for performing operations.

### Core Functionality and Purpose
The primary function of CesiumJS is to enable the creation of virtual globes and maps within a web browser environment. It allows developers to build applications that can visualize, analyze, and interact with geospatial data. This includes streaming 3D content such as terrain, imagery, and massive datasets, often with time-dynamic capabilities.

### Technical Characteristics and Licensing
CesiumJS is built to handle high-performance geospatial visualization.
- **Technology**: It is a JavaScript library, meaning it runs in web browsers.
- **License**: The software is distributed under the Apache Software License 2.0, a permissive free software license.
- **Source Code**: The official source code repository is maintained on GitHub at `https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium`.
- **Etymology**: The name is derived from "caesium" and another entity, Q2005.

### Development and Release History
The project demonstrates a consistent and active development cycle with frequent releases. Historical data indicates a steady progression of versions, with releases occurring on a near-monthly basis.
- **Early Releases**: Examples include version 1.11 released on August 1, 2017.
- **Versioning Scheme**: The project uses a semantic versioning system, with notable versions like 1.100 released in December 2022.
- **Recent and Future Releases**: The version history includes planned stable releases extending to 2025, with the latest recorded version being 1.136 released on December 1, 2025. Many versions are explicitly tagged as "stable version" in their release notes.

### Project Leadership and Origin
- **Developers**: The entity is credited to developer Patrick Cozzi and the organization Cesium.
- **Official Website**: The project maintains an official website at `https://cesium.com/cesiumjs/`.

### Context within Software
As a software entity, CesiumJS fits within the broader context of software classification. It is a creative and written work that serves as a means for computers to perform specific tasks—in this case, geospatial rendering. Its development and evaluation are governed by characteristics common to all software, such as source code, architecture, and quality. The field of software engineering encompasses the discipline required to create and maintain a project like CesiumJS.

## References

1. [Source](https://usgif.org/biography/patrick-cozzi/)
2. [Source](https://api.github.com/repos/CesiumGS/cesium)
3. [Release 1.11. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.11)
4. [Release 1.12. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.12)
5. [Release 1.13. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.13)
6. [Release 1.14. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.14)
7. [Release 1.15. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.15)
8. [Release 1.16. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.16)
9. [Release 1.17. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.17)
10. [Release 1.18. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.18)
11. [Release 1.19. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.19)
12. [Release 1.20. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.20)
13. [Release 1.21. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.21)
14. [Release 1.22. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.22)
15. [Release 1.22.1. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.22.1)
16. [Release 1.23. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.23)
17. [Release 1.24. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.24)
18. [Release 1.25. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.25)
19. [Release 1.26. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.26)
20. [Release 1.27. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.27)
21. [Release 1.28. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.28)
22. [Release 1.29. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.29)
23. [Release 1.30. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.30)
24. [Release 1.31. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.31)
25. [Release 1.32. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.32)
26. [Release 1.33. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.33)
27. [Release 1.34. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.34)
28. [Release 1.35. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.35)
29. [Release 1.36. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.36)
30. [Release 1.37. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.37)
31. [Release 1.38. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.38)
32. [Release 1.39. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.39)
33. [Release 1.40. 2017](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.40)
34. [Release 1.41. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.41)
35. [Release 1.42. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.42)
36. [Release 1.43. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.43)
37. [Release 1.44. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.44)
38. [Release 1.45. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.45)
39. [Release 1.46. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.46)
40. [Release 1.47. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.47)
41. [Release 1.48. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.48)
42. [Release 1.49. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.49)
43. [Release 1.50. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.50)
44. [Release 1.51. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.51)
45. [Release 1.52. 2018](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.52)
46. [Release 1.53. 2019](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.53)
47. [Release 1.54. 2019](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.54)
48. [Release 1.55. 2019](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.55)
49. [Release 1.56. 2019](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.56)
50. [Release 1.56.1. 2019](https://github.com/CesiumGS/cesium/releases/tag/1.56.1)