What is WebGL?

October 17, 2012 · by Anna Rohleder

One of the most exciting new features in Opera 12 is support for WebGL. This is a technology that makes graphics and animation in the browser more dynamic. Some of the most common ways you might experience WebGL in action are interactive music videos and games. But it has many other applications too, as shown in the image below:

This week, there is a brand-new article on post-processing in Web GL on dev.opera. It's pretty advanced, however, so if you want to get up to speed on the basics first, check out this handy introduction to WebGL.

Or if you're ready to roll up your sleeves and get to work with WebGL, we recommend this tutorial that will get you started programming some basic 3D elements.

Readers' comments 21

Left under the original article, as archived.

nizamsandwipWednesday, October 17, 2012 1:28:31 PM
Fine edition Opera fast
CoyoteeWednesday, October 17, 2012 2:24:30 PM
ClashCityRockerWednesday, October 17, 2012 2:43:27 PM
WebGL is only useful if websites cater for Opera.

Google Maps can be WebGL enabled, but only for Firefox, Chrome and Safari. So despite Opera supporting WebGL, it's yet again ignored.

It might work if I could mask as Chrome (or infact ANY Webkit browser), but that's not an option it seems in Opera.. :-(
praetor87Wednesday, October 17, 2012 5:09:25 PM
Google body, firefox' banana bread and some other flashy game. So webgl nothing serious for me, just a chance to play nice games without installing them. At work it's a kind of... Awesome.
Md Nizam uddin SandwipThursday, October 18, 2012 4:39:42 AM
Hi nice WebGL!
Earlene BlosserThursday, October 18, 2012 7:43:19 AM
Sory for taking your time but could anyone explain me in a simple manner what this WebGL really is? I cannot get it from this post...
Ide StoutjesdijkThursday, October 18, 2012 1:04:34 PM
1. Hmm let's try WebGL in Opera.
2. Click: http://helloracer.com/webgl/
3. Oh it doesn't work because WebGL is disabled by default.
4. Enable WebGL (opera:config#UserPrefs|EnableWebGL) and try again.
5. It's extremely slow because Hardware acceleration is disabled by default.
6. Enable Hardware Acceleration and try again.
7. Opera crashes.
ClashCityRockerThursday, October 18, 2012 1:08:26 PM
Originally posted by Crimi:

7. Opera crashes.

Opera hardware acceleration is marked as experimental, so don't be too surprised. It's stability and performance also entirely dependent upon your graphics hardware and graphics drivers. For me, it works quite well.
mrizjoeThursday, October 18, 2012 6:42:38 PM
favorit,..
Quiz ContestFriday, October 19, 2012 5:51:18 AM
I am intarestet WebGL.
Md Nizam uddin NayanFriday, October 19, 2012 6:06:51 AM
Comment marked as spam. Awaiting moderation.
Md Nizam uddin NayanFriday, October 19, 2012 6:09:45 AM
Very jaly
avmlogistikFriday, October 19, 2012 4:17:57 PM
Author of many mpasibo per message!
ArifSunday, October 21, 2012 9:28:11 PM
Not bad feature I guess.
Fathima Rifqa GhaffarMonday, October 22, 2012 3:38:45 AM
Do not know what's WEB GL.What ever it is it may be a new invention. Please be kind enough to give me an upgrade of the latest inventions or add on's of Opera.
CoyoteeMonday, October 22, 2012 9:50:08 PM
This art photo was created by using the webcam and then post-processing the web-shot with WebGL software, which manipulates pixels to do some edge-detection using the Sobel operator, which consists of a convolution operation - a weighted sum of the current pixel being evaluated and its surrounding pixels.
Fathima Rifqa GhaffarMonday, October 22, 2012 10:29:49 PM
"Thank You Very Much" Coyotee for sharing the valuable information with us. As for your information Web GL useful for photographers. indeed this is very different than sketches.
Ronnie MitchellTuesday, October 23, 2012 2:40:54 AM
I am brand new to posting, blogging etc. I have learned a lot of info today by reading what many of you have WROTE, thank you. Question: when I install and uninistal apps pm my phone, does it leave bits n peices behind like a pc or is the app totally gone?
CoyoteeTuesday, October 23, 2012 5:00:33 PM

"Thank You Very Much" Fathima
CoyoteeFriday, October 26, 2012 11:27:25 PM
CoyoteeThursday, November 8, 2012 11:17:30 PM