WebGL

WebGL is a JavaScript API for rendering interactive 2D and 3D graphics within web browsers without plugins, providing direct access to the GPU through a low-level interface based on OpenGL ES. It enables hardware-accelerated graphics rendering that would be impossible with standard DOM manipulation or Canvas 2D operations alone.

Working directly with WebGL requires managing shaders written in GLSL, vertex buffers, texture uploads, and the rendering pipeline manually, which is why most developers use abstraction libraries like Three.js or Babylon.js instead. WebGL powers a wide range of web experiences including product configurators, architectural visualizations, data visualizations with complex geometries, interactive maps, browser games, and creative portfolio sites. WebGL 2, based on OpenGL ES 3.0, added features like 3D textures, transform feedback, and multiple render targets. For web developers, understanding that WebGL exists as the underlying technology helps when evaluating performance characteristics and compatibility of 3D web content.