Home▸Mathematics▸2D Cellular Automaton: Birth/Survival Dynamics

2D Cellular Automaton: Birth/Survival Dynamics

A grid-based cellular automaton with selectable birth/survival rules (Conway, HighLife, Maze, Coral, Seeds), live generation and density readouts, and adjustable resolution, seed density and step speed.

Mathematics2DEasy60 FPS📱 Mobile-adapted⇄ 3D version
2d-3d-cellular-automaton-3d-dynamics ↗ Open standalone

This 2D companion runs the same birth/survival cellular-automaton mechanic as the 3D voxel version, but on a flat grid where the classic rule families are easiest to read: pick Conway's original B3/S23, the two-birth-count HighLife, or the sparser Maze, Coral and Seeds rules, then watch generations tick forward with a live count of alive cells and grid density. Adjusting the seed density or grid resolution reseeds a fresh random cluster so you can see how the same rule produces gliders, stable blocks, sprawling mazes or explosive growth depending on the starting conditions.

⚙ Under the hood

Grid-based cellular automaton with selectable birth/survival rule sets, live generation and density readouts, and adjustable resolution, seed density and step speed.

cellular automatonconway's game of lifeemergencepattern formationbirth/survival rules

2D · HTML5 Canvas 2D · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install

What rule does the default preset use?

Conway's original Game of Life: a dead cell is born with exactly 3 live neighbors, and a live cell survives with 2 or 3 live neighbors (Moore neighborhood, 8 surrounding cells).

Why does the pattern sometimes reseed itself?

When a rule dies out completely or settles into a stable/oscillating pattern for several generations in a row, the grid automatically reseeds with a fresh random cluster so the automaton keeps producing new dynamics to observe.

How does this relate to the 3D version?

The 3D original applies the same birth/survival logic to a cubic voxel grid with 26 neighbors instead of 8; this 2D version keeps the identical rule-based mechanic on a flat grid, which is the traditional and easier-to-read setting for studying these rules.

What did you find?

Add reproduction steps (optional)