Glossary

Augmented Reality (AR)

Augmented Reality (AR) overlays digital content onto a live view of the real world, usually through a smartphone camera. On the reality-virtuality continuum it sits close to the real end: the room stays visible and virtual objects are added on top, placed at real scale on your actual floor or desk. Unlike Virtual Reality, which replaces your surroundings, AR adds to them, and on modern phones it runs straight from the browser with no app install.

Quick Facts

Core idea: digital content overlaid on the real world
Position on the spectrum: close to the real end
Difference from VR: AR adds to reality, VR replaces it
Web technologies: Apple Quick Look, Google Scene Viewer, model-viewer
Typical formats: GLB and USDZ

For online retail and industrial sales, AR answers the one question a product photo never can: does this actually fit, and how does it look in my space. The customer points their phone at the floor, the 3D model drops in at true scale, and the doubt that kills conversions disappears.

The practical entry point for most websites is Web AR, AR delivered through the browser. On iOS it runs on ARKit via Apple Quick Look, on Android on ARCore via Google Scene Viewer.

For WordPress sites running Elementor, PausAR Viewer turns all of this into one drag-and-drop widget. Upload a GLB and a USDZ file, and the plugin detects each device and launches the right AR experience, with no coding.

AR content can be anchored to two kinds of surfaces. Floor placement drops the model onto a horizontal surface like the floor, a table or a desk, which suits furniture, machines and products that stand on the ground. Wall placement attaches it to a vertical surface, which suits framed art, screens, mirrors and signage. PausAR Viewer supports both, so each product is anchored where it really belongs. Here is how floor and wall tracking look with PausAR:

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Comparison

Property	Augmented Reality	Virtual Reality
Environment	Real world plus overlay	Fully virtual
Hardware	Smartphone is enough	Headset required
Web reach	Very high via Web AR	Lower, needs WebXR and a headset

FAQ

What is the difference between AR and VR?

AR adds digital objects to your real surroundings through a camera. VR replaces your surroundings entirely and needs a headset. For product sales on the web, AR is almost always the relevant one.

Do customers need an app for AR?

For Web AR, no. It runs in the browser through Apple Quick Look and Google Scene Viewer.

Where can I see real examples of AR on websites?

The PausAR Studio Use Cases page collects real customer projects, from industrial products to art prints, carpets and cultural heritage sites, all using Web AR directly in the browser.