What it is
tldraw is an SDK for building infinite-canvas applications in React. It provides primitives for whiteboards and custom canvas products: shapes, tools, arrows, text, images, video, bindings, gestures, export, and collaboration.
The project appeared in 2021 and became visible as infinite canvas moved beyond design tools. It is used for whiteboards, diagramming, editors, learning products, visual builders, and AI interfaces that need to read or modify canvas content.
What is inside the repository
Inside are the TypeScript/React SDK, ready `<Tldraw />` component, editor API, shape/tool/binding system, sync packages, starter kits, and documentation. Teams can use the default whiteboard or build custom objects on top of the engine.
Minimal React screen
This example shows the shortest path: import styles, render the component, and get a working canvas that can later be extended with custom shapes and tools.
import { Tldraw } from "tldraw";
import "tldraw/tldraw.css";
export default function App() {
return <Tldraw />;
}Where it is useful
tldraw is useful when the product needs an editor model rather than a bare canvas: selection, movement, zoom, history, collaboration, custom elements, and UI.
Strengths and limits
A strong SDK still leaves architecture decisions: document storage, sync, permissions, shape rules, and export. For a simple image on a page it is too much; it shines when the canvas is central to the product.