VRML format
 
 
 

VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) was developed with the intention of providing people with a standard tool that they could use to view and interact with 3D models on the Web.

The file structure of the VRML files is based on the Inventor format where there is a hierarchical arrangement of nodes.

VRML 2 resembles to the structure of VRML1 but uses slightly different keywords. E.g. vertex becomes point, DEF Default shader group becomes material DEF Default shader Material.

Features

These are the main differences between VRML 1 and VRML 2:

Version Differences
VRML 1.0 Standard objects (cube, sphere, cone, cylinder, text)
  Arbitrary objects (surfaces, linesets, pointsets)
  Ability to fly through, walk through, examine scenes
  Lights
  Cameras (viewpoints)
  Textures on objects
  Clickable links
  Define and reuse objects
VRML 2.0 All VRML 1.0 features plus Animated objects
  Switches
  Sensors
  Scripts (Java and JavaScript)
  Interpolators (colors, position, orientation, and so on)
  Extrusions
  Background colors and textures
  Sound (.wav and MIDI)
  Animated textures
  Event routing
  Define and reuse objects and behaviors and effectively add new nodes to the language with PROTO and EXTERNPROTO
   
NoteTo view and interact with VRML, you need a plug-in for your web browser which interprets the VRML language and makes the objects visible on the screen.

Examples of web browsers:

  • Cosmoplayer
  • Worldview
  • Microsoft VRML 2.0 viewer
  • Webscout (VRML1)