What is OpenGL, WebGL, Three.js, and WebXR?
Tags: webdev, webgraphics, beginners
Published: 2024-07-13 18:08:01



## **OpenGL**
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. It is widely used in video games, CAD, virtual reality, scientific visualization, and more. 

Resources:
[OpenGL](https://www.opengl.org/)


## **WebGL**
WebGL (Web Graphics Library) is a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics within any compatible web browser without the use of plug-ins. It is based on OpenGL ES (a subset of OpenGL for embedded systems). 
Major browser vendors Apple (Safari), Google (Chrome), Microsoft (Edge), and Mozilla (Firefox) are members of the WebGL Working Group.

Resources:
[WebGL](https://www.khronos.org/webgl/)
[WebGL: 2D and 3D graphics for the web](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WebGL_API)

## **Three.js**
Three.js is a popular JavaScript library that simplifies the creation and display of 3D graphics in a web browser using WebGL. It supports VR and AR, offers cross-browser compatibility via WebGL, provides extensive tools for adding materials, textures, and animations, and allows for the integration of models from other 3D modeling software.  

**Key Features** 

- Scene Graph: It uses a scene graph structure, allowing developers to create and manage 3D objects, cameras, lights, and other elements in a hierarchical manner.

- Geometries and Materials: Three.js provides a variety of built-in geometries (e.g., cubes, spheres, planes) and materials (e.g., basic, lambert, phong, standard) that can be easily customized and combined.

- Animation: The library supports animations, including skeletal animations, morph targets, and keyframe animations, making it suitable for creating animated 3D content.

- Shaders and Post-Processing: Three.js allows the use of custom shaders written in GLSL and supports post-processing effects such as bloom, depth of field, and motion blur.

Resources:
[Three.js](https://threejs.org/)
[Fundamentals](https://threejs.org/manual/#en/fundamentals)
[Discover threejs](https://discoverthreejs.com/book/)

Other graphic libraries:
[Babylon.js](https://www.babylonjs.com/ )
[A-Frame](https://aframe.io/)

## **WebXR** 
WebXR (Web Extended Reality) is a web standard that provides support for both virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) experiences directly in web browsers. 

Resources:
[WebXR](https://immersiveweb.dev/)
[Fundamentals of WebXR](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WebXR_Device_API/Fundamentals)

## **React Three Fiber (R3F)**
React Three Fiber (R3F) is a powerful library that brings the capabilities of Three.js into the React ecosystem. 

Resources:
[R3F documentation](https://docs.pmnd.rs/react-three-fiber/getting-started/introduction)
[Building an interactive 3D event badge with React Three Fiber](https://vercel.com/blog/building-an-interactive-3d-event-badge-with-react-three-fiber)

**Conclusion**
OpenGL is a powerful API for creating high-performance graphics applications across various domains. WebGL extends these capabilities to the web, enabling rich, interactive graphics directly in browsers and integrating seamlessly with HTML5. Three.js further simplifies web-based 3D graphics creation with its extensive features, making it a popular choice for both simple visualizations and complex animations. WebXR brings VR and AR capabilities to the web, allowing developers to build immersive, cross-device experiences. React Three Fiber combines Three.js with React's declarative nature, making 3D graphics development more accessible and manageable in React applications.