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OpenGL

File:OpenGL_logo_(2D).svg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Also known as Open GL, Open Graphics Library, OGL, GL

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. The API is typically used to interact with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardware-accelerated rendering.

AI overview

OpenGL is a software tool that lets programs create and display 2D and 3D graphics by communicating directly with your computer's graphics processor. It matters because it enables fast, efficient rendering of graphics across different computers and operating systems, making it widely useful for everything from video games to professional visualization software.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Software.license
Open source license for use of the Sample Implementation (SI): This is a Free Software License B closely modeled on BSD, X, and Mozilla licenses. Trademark license for new licensees who want to use the OpenGL trademark and logo and claim conformance.
Software.name
OpenGL
Software.logo
OpenGL logo (2D).svg
Software.logo size
220px
Software.screenshot
Linux kernel and OpenGL video games.svg
Software.caption
A diagram of how video games on Linux outsource real-time rendering calculations to a GPU using OpenGL
Software.author
Silicon Graphics
Software.developer
Khronos Group(formerly ARB)
Software.programming language
C
Software.replaced_by
Vulkan
Software.genre
3D graphics API

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website
www.opengl.org
Image
Glxinfo with glxgears screenshot.png
Show 5 more facts
software version identifier
4.4
Commons category
OpenGL
inception
1992-07-01
publication date
1992-06-30
Sources (10)

via Wikidata · CC0

~31 min read

Article

31 sections
Contents
  • Design
  • Development
  • Documentation
  • Associated libraries
  • Context and window toolkits
  • Extension loading libraries
  • Implementations
  • History
  • Industry support
  • Version history
  • OpenGL 2.0
  • OpenGL 2.1
  • Longs Peak and OpenGL 3.0
  • OpenGL 3.0
  • OpenGL 3.1
  • OpenGL 3.2
  • OpenGL 3.3
  • OpenGL 4.0
  • OpenGL 4.1
  • OpenGL 4.2
  • OpenGL 4.3
  • OpenGL 4.4
  • OpenGL 4.5
  • OpenGL 4.6
  • Alternative implementations
  • {{anchor|glNext}}{{anchor|Vulkan}}Vulkan
  • See also
  • Notes
  • References
  • Further reading
  • External links

OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, cross-platform application programming interface (API) for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. The API is typically used to interact with a graphics processing unit (GPU), to achieve hardware-accelerated rendering.

Silicon Graphics, Inc. (SGI) began developing OpenGL in 1991 and released it on June 30, 1992. It is used for a variety of applications, including computer-aided design (CAD), video games, scientific visualization, virtual reality, and flight simulation. Since 2006, OpenGL has been managed by the non-profit technology consortium Khronos Group.

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