Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Introducing OpenGL
OpenGL stands for Open Graphics Library. This is a widely used library for visualizing
two-dimensional and three-dimensional objects. This is a standard multipurpose two-di-
mensional and three-dimensional content creation graphics library. It is used in various
streams, such as mechanical design, architectural design, gaming, prototyping, flight simu-
lation, and many more. OpenGL is used to configure and submit three-dimensional graph-
ics data to the device. All the data is prepared in the form of matrices and they are trans-
formed to vertices, which are transformed and assembled to produce two-dimensional ras-
terized images. Two-dimensional graphics have two axes, which are x and y; however, in
the case of three-dimensional graphics, we have three-dimensional axes, which are x, y,
and z, where z is the depth.
This library is designed to compile normal function calls into graphical commands, which
will get executed on the graphics rendering hardware. All the graphics hardware is de-
signed to execute the graphics commands. OpenGL draws and renders views very fast.
