OpenGL Overview
OpenGL® is the most widely adopted 2D and 3D graphics API in the industry, bringing thousands of applications to a wide variety of computer platforms. It is window-system and operating-system independent as well as network-transparent. OpenGL enables developers of software for PC, workstation, and supercomputing hardware to create high-performance, visually compelling graphics software applications, in markets such as CAD, content creation, energy, entertainment, game development, manufacturing, medical, and virtual reality. OpenGL exposes all the features of the latest graphics hardware.
OpenGL 4.1 at a glance
The OpenGL 4.1 and OpenGL Shading Language 4.10 Specifications were released on July 26, 2010.
OpenGL 4.1 improves OpenCL™ interoperability for accelerating computationally intensive visual applications and continues support for both the Core and Compatibility profiles first introduced with OpenGL 3.2, enabling developers to use a streamlined API or retain backwards compatibility for existing OpenGL code, depending on their market needs.
New features of OpenGL 4.1 include:
- Full compatibility with OpenGL ES 2.0 APIs for easier porting between mobile and desktop platforms
- The ability to query and load a binary for shader program objects to save re-compilation time
- The capability to bind programs individually to programmable stages for programming flexibility
- 64-bit floating-point component vertex shader inputs for higher geometric precision
- Multiple viewports for a rendering surface for increased rendering flexibility
New ARB extensions introduced with OpenGL 4.1 include:
- Linking OpenGL sync objects to OpenCL event objects for enhanced OpenCL interoperability
- The ability to set stencil values in a fragment shader for enhanced rendering flexibility
- Features to improve robustness, for example when running WebGL applications
- Callback mechanisms to receive enhanced errors and warning messages
API & GLSL specifications
- OpenGL 4.1 Core Profile Specification
- OpenGL 4.1 Compatibility Profile Specification
- OpenGL Shading Language 4.10.6 Specification
New ARB extensions
- GL_ARB_cl_event
- GL_ARB_debug_output
- GL_ARB_robustness
- GL_ARB_shader_stencil_export
- GLX_ARB_create_context_robustness
- WGL_ARB_create_context_robustness
Additional Links
Specifications and documentation for the OpenGL API and OpenGL Shading Language, as well as related APIs such as GLX, are available from OpenGL.org: