What is Infinite Canvas?

Infinite Canvas is a 2D spatial interface where users pan, zoom, and arrange content freely—no predefined structure. Think digital whiteboards (Miro, FigJam) or design tools (Figma). Content can be placed anywhere, at any scale. Powerful for visual thinking, brainstorming, and non-linear organization.

When Should You Use This?

Use infinite canvas for visual collaboration (whiteboarding, brainstorming), design tools (Figma, Sketch), diagramming (flowcharts, mind maps), spatial organization (mood boards), or when linear structure is limiting. Essential for creative/exploratory work. Don't use for structured data or when users need guided navigation.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• •No minimap—users get lost on infinite canvas; show minimap or breadcrumb trail
• •Poor zoom controls—users need to zoom in/out smoothly; support pinch, scroll, buttons
• •Missing collaboration features—multiplayer cursors, presence, comments essential for team use
• •No templates/starting points—blank canvas is intimidating; provide templates
• •Ignoring performance—rendering thousands of objects requires virtualization

Real-World Examples

• •Figma—infinite canvas for design, zoom from UI elements to full pages
• •Miro—collaborative whiteboard with infinite canvas for brainstorming
• •tldraw—open-source infinite canvas for diagramming
• •Obsidian Canvas—spatial note-taking, arrange notes in 2D space