VertexArrayObject

The WebGL VertexArrayObject object holds a map of "buffers" that will be made available as input data to shaders during a draw call, similar to how a TransformFeedback object holds a set of Buffer instances that will receive output data from shaders.For Buffer objects, the VertexArrayObject also stores some additional information about how that data in the buffer should be accessed, such as offsets, strides, etc.

However, the use of VertexArrayObject is problematic in WebGL 1. While it is crucial for the operation of a program, its presence under WebGL 1 is dependent on an extension that is fairly common, but not universally available. In particular it is not available in headless gl which is essential for running tests under Node.js.

Therefore, in basic WebGL environments where the VertexArrayObject is not supported, luma.gl ensures that one ("fake") instance of the VertexArrayObject class can still be obtained, emulating the default (null handle) VertexArrayObject. This instance has the isDefaultArray flag set, and applications can adapt their behavior accordingly, while still using the same API to manage vertex attributes, albeit with a small performance loss. Since there is a considerable amount of work required to handle both cases, luma.gl also provides a higher level VertexArray class that works around these issues and provided additional conveniences.

It is usually not necessary to create neither VertexArrayObject nor VertexArray instances in luma.gl applications. It is often simpler to just provides attributes directly to the Model class. Still, it can be useful to review this documentation to understand how attributes are handled by WebGL.

For more information on WebGL VertexArrayObjects, see the OpenGL Wiki.

Usage

Import the VertexArrayObject class so that your app can use it:

import {VertexArrayObject} from '@luma.gl/webgl';

Getting the global VertexArrayObject for a WebGL context

const vertexArray = VertexArray.getDefaultArray(gl);

Create a new VertexArray

const vao = new VertexArray(gl);
}

Adding attributes to a VertexArray

const vertexArray = new VertexArray(gl);
vertexArray.setBuffer(location, buffer);

Deleting a VertexArray

vertexArrayObject.delete();

Setting a constant vertex attribute

import {VertexArray} from '@luma.gl/webgl';
const vao = new VertexArray(gl);
vao.setConstant(0, [0, 0, 0]);

Methods

VertexArrayObject inherits from Resource.

VertexArray(gl : WebGLRenderingContext, props : Object)

Creates a new VertexArray

• props (Object) - passed through to Resource superclass constructor and to initialize

VertexArray.getDefaultArray() : VertexArray

Returns the "global" VertexArrayObject.

Note: The global VertexArrayObject object is always available. Binds the null VertexArrayObject.

initialize(props : Object) : VertexArray

Reinitializes a VertexArrayObject.

• attributes={} (Object) - map of attributes, can be keyed by index or names, can be constants (small arrays), Buffer, arrays or typed arrays of numbers, or attribute descriptors.
• elements=null (Buffer) - optional buffer representing elements array (i.e. indices)
• program - Transfers information on vertex attribute locations and types to this vertex array.

setConstant(values : Array) : VertexArray

Sets a constant value for a vertex attribute. When this VertexArrayObject is used in a Program.draw() call, all Vertex Shader invocations will get the same value.

VertexArray.setConstant(location, array);

• gl (WebGLRenderingContext) - gl context
• location (GLuint) - index of the attribute

WebGL APIs: vertexAttrib4[u]{f,i}v

setBuffer(nameOrLocation, buffer : Buffer [, accessor : Object]) : VertexArray

Binds the specified attribute in this vertex array to the supplied buffer

• Set a location in vertex attributes array to a buffer, specifying
• its data layout and integer to float conversion and normalization flags

setBuffer(location, buffer); setBuffer(location, buffer, {offset = 0, stride = 0, normalized = false, integer = false});

• location (GLuint | String) - index/ordinal number of the attribute
• buffer (WebGLBuffer|Buffer) - WebGL buffer to set as value

gl.vertexAttrib{I}Pointer, gl.vertexAttribDivisor

getParameter(pname, location) : *

Queries a vertex attribute location.

• pname (GLenum) - Which parameter to query. See table of parameter constants below for values.
• location (Number) - index of attributes

Note that in WebGL queries are generally slow and should be avoided in performance critical code sections.

Types, Constants, Enumarations

getParameter Constants

When using a WebGL 2 context, the following values are available additionally: | GL.VERTEX_ATTRIB_ARRAY_INTEGER | GLboolean | true if an integer data type is in the vertex attribute array at the given index. | | GL.VERTEX_ATTRIB_ARRAY_DIVISOR | GLint | The frequency divisor used for instanced rendering. |

Attribute Accessors

When setting Buffer attributes, additional data can be provided to specify how the buffer should be accessed. This data can be stored directly on the Buffer accessor or supplied to .setBuffer.

• target=buffer.target (GLuint, ) - which target to bind to

• size (GLuint) - number of values (components) per element (1-4)

• type (GLuint) - type of values (e.g. gl.FLOAT)

• normalized (boolean, false) - normalize integers to [-1,1] or [0,1]

• integer (boolean, false) - WebGL 2 disable int-to-float conversion

• stride (GLuint, 0) - supports strided arrays

• offset (GLuint, 0) - supports strided arrays

• layout.normalized=false (GLbool) - normalize integers to [-1,1], [0,1]

• layout.integer=false (GLuint) - WebGL 2 only, disable int-to-float conv.

• divisor - Sets the frequency divisor used for instanced rendering (instances that pass between updates of attribute). Usually simply set to 1 or 0 to enable/disable instanced rendering. 0 disables instancing, >=1 enables it.

Notes:

• The application can enable normalization by setting the normalized flag to true in the setBuffer call.
• WebGL 2 The application can disable integer to float conversion when running under WebGL 2, by setting the integer flag to true.
• glVertexAttribIPointer specifies integer data formats and locations of vertex attributes. Values are always left as integer values. Only accepts the integer types gl.BYTE, gl.UNSIGNED_BYTE, gl.SHORT, gl.UNSIGNED_SHORT, gl.INT, gl.UNSIGNED_INT

Notes about Instanced Rendering

• About setting divisor in attributes: Instanced attributes requires WebGL 2 or a (widely supported) WebGL 1 extension. Apps can use the luma.gl feature detection system to determine if instanced rendering is available, though the extension is so ubiquitously supported that many apps just make the assumption: instanced_arrays.
• An attribute is referred to as instanced if its divisor value is non-zero.
• The divisor modifies the rate at which vertex attributes advance when rendering multiple instances of primitives in a single draw call.
• If divisor is zero, the attribute at slot index advances once per vertex.
• If divisor is non-zero, the attribute advances once per divisor instances of the set(s) of vertices being rendered.