How Content - MiniGlobe Works

MiniGlobe turns {miniglobe} tags into vibrant 3D globes that spin smoothly in any modern browser. Version 5.2+ features a complete rewrite using pure WebGL2 for maximum performance and minimal overhead. It renders customizable globes using equirectangular projection textures, with optional cloud layers and atmospheric effects. Add markers to pinpoint locations with intelligent update logic—new markers are added, existing markers are updated, and only removed markers disappear. Control everything through tag attributes or plugin settings for a slick, infographic-style decoration that's as functional as it is beautiful.

Visually Stunning - Incredibly Lean

MiniGlobe isn't a small globe - it scales to fit the container it's in. It's Mini because the file sizes are incredibly small!

Why waste resources on heavy, expensive globe plugins? MiniGlobe now weighs in at just 52KB for the core renderer—a massive 92% reduction from the previous 700KB Three.js version. Add your choice of globe textures (1024x512 recommended for best size/quality balance), optional cloud layers, and you're still under 400KB total. No external dependencies, no bloat, just pure optimized WebGL2 rendering. Free to use, it delivers pro-level visuals without the premium price tag.

Performance Highlights:

• 52KB core JavaScript (down from 700KB)
• No external dependencies - pure WebGL2
• Shared Web Worker for efficient AJAX/KML marker loading across multiple globes
• Intelligent marker updates - only changes what's needed
• Optimized rendering - runs smoothly even on mobile devices

Dynamic Marker Magic

MiniGlobe lets you pin locations on the globe with latitude, longitude, size, and color, ideal for infographic-style data displays. Add static markers or update them dynamically with AJAX or JavaScript. For example:

Static Markers

For simple, static displays where the markers need not change.

{miniglobe brightness="1.5" markers='[[40.7128,-74.0060,0.5,"#00ff00"]]' clouds="0"}

The markers value is a JSON array of marker items. A marker item is itself a JSON array, containing lat, lon, size, and color values. Size and color can be omitted or set to null if you want to retain the plugin default size and/or color.

Dynamic Markers

For dynamic displays, where markers are expected to change - or where there are so many markers that it's more convenient to manage them externally.

JavaScript Markers

When you absolutely, positively, undoubtedly MUST have complete control over the markers displayed on the globe. MiniGlobe has you covered.

Why Choose Content - MiniGlobe?

MiniGlobe is your go-to for adding professional, interactive 3D globes to Joomla without the heavy code or high costs of other solutions.

Lightning-Fast Performance

52KB of pure optimized code means your globes load instantly. The complete rewrite eliminates Three.js dependency, using pure WebGL2 for maximum efficiency. Runs smoothly on desktop and mobile, with intelligent resource management through shared Web Workers.

Smarter Marker Management

Intelligent updates mean no more flickering replacements. Markers smoothly appear, update, and disappear based on your data changes. Perfect for live dashboards, real-time tracking, or dynamic data visualization.

Professional Features, Zero Cost

Free to use, no hidden costs.

Free Customization Tools

You can import your own globe textures, or use our Equirectangular Globe Texture Editor to create one to match your website color scheme.

Content - MiniGlobe Features

• Instant 3D globe rendering via {miniglobe} tags
• Interactive rotation - drag with mouse or touch, eases back to auto-rotation
• 52KB optimized core - 92% smaller than previous version
• No external dependencies - pure WebGL2
• Intelligent marker updates - smooth additions/updates/removals
• Multiple marker types - spheres and cylinders for varied visualization
• Shared Web Worker - efficient AJAX/KML loading across multiple globes
• Dynamic markers with latitude, longitude, size, color, and unique IDs
• AJAX auto-refresh with configurable intervals (milliseconds)
• KML support for easy geographic data import
• Optional cloud layer with independent rotation speed
• Atmospheric glow effect for enhanced realism
• Graticule overlay - latitude/longitude grid lines
• Procedural rendering - optional land/ocean coloring without textures
• Custom textures - bring your own equirectangular images
• Configurable everything - brightness, rotation, colors, sizes
• Supports Joomla 4.x to 6.x with modern browser compatibility
• Mobile optimized - smooth performance on phones and tablets
• Comprehensive JavaScript API for programmatic control

Why settle for bloated, expensive alternatives when MiniGlobe delivers stunning, data-rich globes that are faster, smaller, and smarter?