A lightweight, single-file interactive viewer for Obsidian Canvas files (.canvas) that runs entirely in your browser. No server required.
Note
Status: Currently a robust Review/Viewer tool. Coming Soon: Full Editing capabilities (nodes, connections, text) are in active development and will be delivered within ~2 weeks. 🚀
Imagine a workspace where you can organize thoughts, drop links, and make quick notes in a Big Infinite Sheet, all within your browser. Then, everything syncs seamlessly back to your local Obsidian vault. You revisit projects years later with zero context loss.
This project solves "Tab Fatigue" and "Project Amnesia".
- Zero Install: Everything is contained in one single
canvas_viewer.htmlfile. - Vault Integration: Connect your Obsidian Vault folder to see markdown notes directly in the canvas.
- Hybrid Link Previews (New!):
- Browsing Context: Sites load directly inside the card (Mini-Browser).
- Smart Fallback: If a site blocks embedding (e.g., GitHub), the card shows a polished header with the site's Favicon and Title.
- Rich Media: Native support for YouTube embeds and Image links.
- Smart History: Remembers your recent files and vaults for one-click reconnection.
- Search & Zoom: Full pan/zoom controls and text search for large, complex maps.
- 100% Local: No cloud, no servers. Your data stays yours.
| Obsidian Original | Canvas Web Viewer |
|---|---|
 |
 |
| Your canvas in Obsidian | The same canvas in any browser |
- Download the latest
canvas_viewer.html. - Open it in any modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox).
- Drag & Drop your
.canvasfile onto the window.
To see the full content of your Markdown notes:
- Click "Select Vault Folder".
- Choose the root folder of your Obsidian vault.
- Browser permission will be requested (allow read access).
- Click the Gear Icon (Settings).
- Toggle "Enable Link Previews".
- Enjoy browsing your reference links without leaving the board!
- New: Hybrid Link Cards. Links now attempt to load the live website inside the card.
- New: Smart Fallbacks. If a site (e.g., GitHub) blocks being viewed in a frame, the card gracefully displays a polished header with the site's Favicon and Title.
- UID: General UI polish for a cleaner, modern look.
This project is licensed under the MIT License.