X3D

X3D is the ISO standard for real-time 3D computer graphics, the successor to Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML). X3D features extensions to VRML (e.g. Humanoid Animation, Nurbs, GeoVRML etc.), the ability to encode the scene using an XML syntax as well as the Open Inventor-like syntax of VRML97, and enhanced application programmer interfaces (APIs).

X3D defines several profiles (sets of extensions) for various purposes, such as X3D Core, X3D Interchange, X3D CAD, X3D Geospatial and X3D Immersive, and browser makers can define their own extensions prior to submitting them for standardisation by the Web3D Consortium.

A subset of X3D is XMT-A, a variant of XMT, defined in MPEG-4 Part 11. It was designed to provide a link between X3D and 3D content in MPEG-4 (BIFS).

Alternatives

• 3DML
• COLLADA
• U3D
• VRML (precursor of X3D)
• FX3D function-based extension of X3D

See also

• List of vector graphics markup languages

External links

Documentation

• X3D Specifications
• Web3D Consortium
• X3D Wiki
• X3D Help
• X3D Tooltips
• VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) and X3D
• Extensible 3D: XML Meets VRML

Plugins and Viewers

• X3D Plugin Detector
• BS Contact X3D/VRML standalone viewer and web-browser plugin for Windows
• Cortona X3D/VRML browser plugin for Windows and Mac OS X (OS 9 and PPC, not Intel)
• Flux Player (see also Flux (VRML and X3D)) Free Web 3D (XML/VRML) browser plug-in for Windows, Open Source, fully supported
• FreeWRL Open Source X3D/VRML standalone viewer and web-browser plugin for Linux, Unix and Mac OS X
• Octaga Player X3D/VRML standalone viewer and web-browser plugin for Windows and Linux
• Demotride standalone X3D viewer
• instantplayer beta - X3D/VRML97 standalone and commandline player (Mac,Windows,Linux)

API and Tools

• Flux Studio (see also Flux (VRML and X3D)) Free authoring tool (modeling, animating, scripting) for creating X3D content - fully supported
• Ajax3D Ajax-based programming for creating 3D virtual worlds within a web browser
• H3D Free C++ / OpenGL API for developing X3D applications and browsers
• CyberX3D C++ and Java libraries for X3D
• VRML97 to X3D Translator standalone software to convert VRML to X3D
• VRML97 and X3D Converter software to convert VRML to X3D and merge visualizations into one file
• Xj3D toolkit and browser
• X3D-Edit authoring tool
• X3D Plugin Detector
• C++ Data Binding for X3D
• WireFusion Web3D authoring tool for Windows, Mac and Linux. Includes an X3D viewer with Java API
• white_dune Open source VRML97 authoring tool for Windows and Linux/UNIX/MacOSX with X3DV export

(since version 0.29beta).

• blender Open source 3D modelling program with X3D export

Open Source Implementations

• Ajax3D Ajax-based programming for creating 3D worlds within a web browser
• Flux Player (see also Flux (VRML and X3D)) Free Web 3D (XML/VRML) browser plug-in for Windows, Open Source, fully supported
• FreeWRL Open source VRML/X3D browser and browser plug-in for Linux, Unix and Mac OS X
• Xj3D Open source toolkit and browser
• X3DToolKit Cross platform X3D API. Includes a loader and viewer, recently revived from the dead

Examples and Community

• Flux Virtual Gallery User-Created 3D Content
• The X3D Experience an X3D showcase website (Domain expired)
• VRMLWorld.net provides 3D multi-user collaboration and chat for X3D and VRML
• Web3D Chat Community Chat
• Web City Office Towers 3D World