About the Glb file format
- Name
- Binary GL Transmission Format File
- Extension
- .glb
- Format
- Binary
- Category
- 3D
- Developer
- Khronos Group
- Description
- LB is the binary file format representation of 3D models saved in the GL Transmission Format (glTF).
- MIME Type
- model/gltf-binary
- Wikipedia
- .glb on Wikipedia
GLB is a 3D file format that’s used to share digital assets across 3D modeling applications. They are very common in virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), games, and web applications because they support motion and animation. GLB files are optimized for fast loading time hence they are smaller in size.
The file is a binary version of the GL Transmission Format (gITF) file, which uses JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) encoding. So, supporting data (like textures, shaders, and geometry/animation) is contained in a single file.
It was developed by the Khronos Group at the same time as the glTF formats in 2015. They saw a need for cross-platform formats that developers could open and edit in many graphics and 3D apps. The updated version of the GLB file (released in 2017), added Physically Based Rendering (PBR), which lets shadows and light look more realistic and coding updates for increased speed and better animation.
GLB, like glTF, is a royalty-free way to encode 3D data. A GLB file is smaller (approximately 33 percent) than a glTF file and its supporting files. GLB files may contain image files (JPG/PNG), BIN files, or GLSL files that store shaders.
You can open these files with Microsoft Paint 3D, Trimble 3D Warehouse, and many others.