What it is
Aceternity UI is a modern component collection built with Next.js, React, Tailwind CSS, and Framer Motion. It offers stunning animated effects and copy-and-paste components (no npm package required), perfect for visually engaging UI buildouts.
Provides a wide range of animated UI components—such as 3D cards, tooltips, carousels, background effects, loaders, and more—designed for React/Next.js with Tailwind and Framer Motion. Use the live playground to test and grab code snippets. [oai_citation:4‡ui.aceternity.com](https://ui.aceternity.com/components?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Installation
Use the provided CLI or manually copy component source code from the Aceternity UI website.Getting started
The smallest useful thing you can do with it, and what each part means.
// Visit the Playground → select a component → copy the JSX/TS code into your components/ui folder
import { MyCard } from "components/ui/MyCard";
<MyCard />Advanced usage
Where the library earns its place over a simpler alternative.
// Copy the component code (e.g., 3D Card) and its accompanying utils/style from the Aceternity UI site.
import { ThreeDCard } from "components/ui/ThreeDCard";
function Hero() {
return <ThreeDCard title="Hello" description="3D effect in action" />;
}// Navigate to the Aceternity UI Playground, experiment with component props and copy the live code directly into your project.Errors and fixes
The failures you are most likely to hit, and what actually resolves them.
- Component not rendering or broken animation
- Check that dependencies (Tailwind, Framer Motion, clsx, tw-merge) are installed and configured properly.
- Missing utility function `cn`
- Add the `cn` helper function (`clsx` + `tw-merge`) as shown in Aceternity UI setup guidelines. [oai_citation:7‡ui.aceternity.com](https://ui.aceternity.com/components/feature-sections?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [oai_citation:8‡Medium](https://medium.com/%40salman.faraj06/a-comprehensive-guide-to-using-the-typescript-based-trending-component-library-aceternity-ui-with-50618402b91b?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- GlobalConfig or asset missing
- Ensure that required config files or assets (like data.json) are copied if component relies on them (e.g. GitHub Globe example). [oai_citation:9‡Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/react/comments/1ll2vs8/can_anyone_help_me_using_aceternity_ui_library/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
Best practices
- Use Vite or Next.js + Tailwind + Framer Motion setup for best compatibility.
- Organize components under `components/ui` for clarity.
- Ensure required utilities (`cn`, Tailwind setup, etc.) are available per setup guides. [oai_citation:5‡ui.aceternity.com](https://ui.aceternity.com/components/feature-sections?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [oai_citation:6‡Medium](https://medium.com/%40salman.faraj06/a-comprehensive-guide-to-using-the-typescript-based-trending-component-library-aceternity-ui-with-50618402b91b?utm_source=chatgpt.com)
- Use the live playground to test and copy code snippets for perfect integration.
- Stay mindful of keeping the source code updated manually since components aren’t pulled via npm.
Background
Why it exists, and what it was reacting to.
Inspired by shadcn/ui, Aceternity UI was created by Manu Arora (Mannupaaji) to let developers quickly add breathtaking animations—like dynamic cards, background effects, and interactive components—to their projects by simply copying source code. It's gained popularity for its visual flair and ease of integration in React/Next.js environments. [oai_citation:0‡Medium](https://piyush-dubey.medium.com/is-aceternity-ui-worth-the-hype-99b6594daf90?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [oai_citation:1‡Medium](https://medium.com/%40salman.faraj06/a-comprehensive-guide-to-using-the-typescript-based-trending-component-library-aceternity-ui-with-50618402b91b?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [oai_citation:2‡YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bs9i35nTUg4&utm_source=chatgpt.com)