VRML is the Virtual Reality Modeling Language, a standard
file format to display 3D models on the web. The most common way to display, show, navigate, browse, play,
or view VRML files, models, or worlds (.wrl file extension) is with a VRML
plugin, also known as a VRML viewer, player, browser, reader,
add-on, client, toolkit, program, software, or ActiveX control. You must download and install the VRML plugin
in Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, or other browser. Most of the VRML plugins can also display
X3D files. The current version of VRML is referred to as VRML 2.0 or VRML97.
X3D is an open standards file format and run-time architecture to
represent and communicate 3D scenes and objects using XML. It can be thought of as the next generation of VRML. X3D files
can be displayed with an X3D plugin, viewer,
browser, program, or toolkit. Most of the X3D plugins also display VRML files.
X3DOM is a framework to support X3D in HTML and rendered with
WebGL. No plugin is required to view X3DOM files although it is only supported in recent versions
of Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari on a Mac, or Internet Explorer 9 with Flash 11. View the
NIST logo with X3DOM.
It is possible to have multiple VRML plugins running in one web browser or different VRML plugins running in different web browsers.
In this example, Octaga Player displays X3D files in both web
browsers. Cortona3D displays VRML files in Internet Explorer and Cosmo Player displays VRML files in Firefox.
In this example, Cosmo Player is running in Firefox and Google Chrome
while Cortona3D is running in Internet Explorer and Safari. In some web browsers, the user can enable or disable one of
the multiple VRML plugins.
Most VRML and X3D plugins can be detected in
Internet Explorer,
Firefox,
Google Chrome,
Opera,
Safari, and
other web browsers on any of these operating systems:
Windows (7, Vista, XP), Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Suse),
Mac OS X, iOS, Android, or Unix (FreeBSD, SunOS)
This software was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology
by employees of the Federal Government in the course of their official duties. Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the
United States Code this software is not subject to
copyright protection and is in the public domain. This software is an experimental system. NIST assumes no
responsibility whatsoever for its use by other parties, and makes no guarantees, expressed or implied, about its
quality, reliability, or any other characteristic.
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