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

Cameras are converted to VRML2.0 Viewpoints.
Ambient Lights are converted to a VRML point light with ambient properties.
Per-vertex normals and texture coordinates (if desired).
Material animation is converted.
Animation is converted intelligently (only dynamic objects have animation information).
Initial navigation mode can be specified in the translator.
Double-sided/single-sided setting (in Render stats) is converted for groups.
Does not support VRML2.0 embedded textures.
The Inventor/VRML translator does not support annotation information.

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

Note

To 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)