Conway's Game of Life

A zero-player cellular automaton on a grid: each generation follows simple neighbor rules, yet complex patterns emerge. Click Start to run the simulation.

The Rules — Simplified

  1. Survival: A live cell with 2 or 3 live neighbors stays alive.
  2. Death: A live cell with fewer than 2 or more than 3 live neighbors dies.
  3. Birth: A dead cell with exactly 3 live neighbors becomes alive.
  4. Stasis: All other cells remain in their current state.

The Rules — Classic

  1. Underpopulation: A live cell with fewer than two live neighbors dies.
  2. Survival: A live cell with two or three live neighbors lives on to the next generation.
  3. Overpopulation: A live cell with more than three live neighbors dies.
  4. Reproduction: A dead cell with exactly three live neighbors becomes a live cell.