X3D

Infobox file format
name = X3D
icon =



caption =
extension = .x3dv, .x3d, .x3db z finalizes extension when gzipped
mime = model/x3d+vrml model/x3d+xml model/x3d+binary
type code =
uniform type =
magic =
owner =
released =
latest release version = 3.0
latest release date =
genre = 3D computer graphics
container for =
contained by =
extended from = VRML, XML
extended to =
standard = ISO
url = http://www.web3d.org/x3d/

X3D is the ISO standard XML-based file format for representing 3D computer graphics, the successor to the 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).

Example X3D document

tandardization

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).

The abstract specification for X3D (ISO/IEC 19775) was approved by the ISO in 2004. The XML and VRML encodings for X3D (ISO/IEC 19776) were approved in 2005. [ [http://www.web3d.org/about/faq/#process-3 X3D FAQ – "What is the status of the X3D specification?"] . Retrieved on November 30, 2007.]

Applications

There are several applications, most of them being open source software, which natively parse and interpret X3D files, including the 3D graphics and animation editor Blender and the Sun Microsystems virtual world client Project Wonderland. However, it has not received a wider ground of acceptance in other, more notable and proprietary software applications Fact|date=September 2008.

Alternatives

*3DMLW (3D Markup Language for Web)
*COLLADA
*U3D
*VRML (precursor of X3D)

ee also

*Flux, freely downloadable VRML/X3D editor/browser
*FreeWRL, free Open Source VRML/X3D browser
*List of vector graphics markup languages
*Web3D

References

External links

General

* [http://cic.nist.gov/vrml/vbdetect.html VRML and X3D Plugin Detector] that determines which VRML and X3D plugins are installed in your web browser
* [http://search.dmoz.org/cgi-bin/search?search=x3d X3D] at the Open Directory Project
* [http://www.web3d.org/x3d/opensource List of X3D Open Source Projects] (maintained by web3d.org)

Documentation

* [http://www.web3d.org/x3d/specifications/ X3D Specifications]
* [http://www.web3d.org/ Web3D Consortium]
* [http://www.web3d.org/x3d/wiki/index.php/Main_Page X3D Wiki]
* [http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/examples/help.html X3D Help]
* [http://www.web3d.org/x3d/content/X3dTooltips.html X3D Tooltips]
* [http://xml.coverpages.org/vrml-X3D.html VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) and X3D]
* [http://www.xml.com/pub/a/2003/08/06/x3d.html Extensible 3D: XML Meets VRML]