Windows OpenGL Documentation
Welcome to the official Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) documentation for OpenGL on Windows. This section provides comprehensive resources for developers integrating OpenGL into their Windows applications, covering everything from basic setup to advanced rendering techniques.
Getting Started with OpenGL on Windows
OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-language, cross-platform API for rendering 2D and 3D vector graphics. On Windows, it's typically accessed through the Microsoft implementation, which provides access to hardware-accelerated graphics capabilities.
Key Concepts and APIs
- WGL (Windowing OpenGL): The Windows-specific extension API used to create OpenGL rendering contexts and manage the interaction between OpenGL and Windows windows.
- OpenGL Functions: Access to the core OpenGL rendering commands.
- Extensions: Information on vendor-specific and standard OpenGL extensions available on Windows.
Common Tasks
- Setting up an OpenGL Context: Learn how to create and manage OpenGL rendering contexts using WGL functions like
wglCreateContextandwglMakeCurrent. - Rendering Primitives: Understand how to draw points, lines, triangles, and other primitives using OpenGL commands.
- Shaders and the Programmable Pipeline: Explore modern OpenGL techniques using vertex and fragment shaders.
- Buffer Objects: Optimize rendering performance by using Vertex Buffer Objects (VBOs) and other buffer types.
Tutorials and Samples
Explore practical examples and step-by-step guides to help you implement OpenGL features in your applications.
Reference Material
| Topic | Description |
|---|---|
| WGL Functions | Detailed documentation for all WGL API functions. |
| Core OpenGL Commands | Reference for the standard OpenGL command set. |
| OpenGL Extensions | Information on common OpenGL extensions for Windows. |