WebGL

WebGL is a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics within web browsers, leveraging the GPU for hardware-accelerated performance without plugins. It is based on OpenGL ES 2.0 and integrates with the HTML5 <canvas> element via DOM interfaces. WebGL enables complex…

Key facts

First appeared: 2011
Category: technology
Problem solved: Enabling hardware-accelerated 3D graphics in web browsers without requiring plugins like Flash, overcoming the limitations of software-rendered 2D canvas and inefficient hacks for graphics rendering.
Platforms: Desktop and mobile, Web browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge)

Related technologies

Babylon.js
JavaScript
Three.js
HTML5 Canvas

Notable users

Mozilla (Zygote Body)
Google
Apple
Autodesk
Mozilla