About the Gltf file format
- Name
- GL Transmission Format
- Extension
- .gltf
- Format
- Text
- Category
- 3D
- Developer
- The Khronos Group
- Description
- glTF (GL Transmission Format) is a 3D file format that stores 3D model information in JSON format.
- MIME Type
- application/gltf+json
- Wikipedia
- .gltf on Wikipedia
The Graphics Language Transmission Format (gITF) is the standard file format for 3D scenes and models. It is a royalty-free format used for successful transmission and loading of 3D scenes and models by CAD applications and engines. glTF files store information in JSON reducing the size of 3D components, and the processing time required to unpack and use them.
Basically, glTF is an extensible, publishing format that modernizes workflows and interactive services by allowing the interoperable use of 3D assets across the industry. The developers, Khronos Group, in 2015 defined it as the ‘JPEG of 3D.’
It represents 3D models with the help of full scene descriptions held in a JSON-format .glTF file contains data about node hierarchy, materials, cameras, detailed descriptions of meshes, animations, and other 3D scenes. The file may also contain Binary files (.bin) holding geometry and animation information, and other buffer-based data. And it may store image files like JPG/ PNG for textures.
Any external assets including images are stored in external files that are referenced through a URI. These URIs are stored together with the GLB container or embedded directly into the JSON using data URIs. Each valid glTF must specify its version.