Format Guide
The web standard for 3D — compact PBR rendering, native browser support, and universal AR/VR compatibility.
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| Extension | .gltf (JSON + external assets), .glb (binary bundle) |
|---|---|
| Full name | GL Transmission Format |
| Standard | Khronos Group glTF 2.0 |
| Geometry type | Triangle mesh |
| Open standard | Yes |
| Supports PBR materials | Yes — metallic/roughness workflow |
| Supports animations | Yes — skeletal and morph target |
| Supports assemblies | Yes — scene hierarchy |
glTF (GL Transmission Format) is an open standard developed by the Khronos Group. Introduced in 2015 and reaching version 2.0 in 2017, glTF is designed for efficient delivery of 3D scenes to web browsers and real-time applications. It stores mesh geometry, PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials, textures, animations, and scene hierarchy in a JSON-based format. GLB is the binary container variant that packages the JSON and all binary data into a single .glb file. glTF has been called the “JPEG of 3D” — the format most widely supported by web renderers, AR/VR platforms, and e-commerce product viewers.
glTF is the native format for Three.js, Babylon.js, and model-viewer. Shopify, Amazon, and Google use glTF/GLB for interactive 3D product visualization.
Apple AR Quick Look (iOS), Google SceneViewer (Android), and WebXR all natively load GLB files. Product AR experiences on mobile use GLB almost exclusively.
Unreal Engine, Godot, and Babylon.js natively import glTF. It is the preferred format for real-time scenes due to its compact size and GPU-ready structure.
Blender, Sketchfab, Three.js, Babylon.js, Unreal Engine, Godot, Unity (via plugin), iOS AR Quick Look, Android SceneViewer, and all modern web 3D renderers.
Commonly converted from STEP or OBJ for web visualization and e-commerce, to FBX for animation toolchains, or to OBJ for legacy renderers.