.gltf File — GL Transmission Format

glTF (GL Transmission Format) is a royalty-free 3D file format developed by the Khronos Group, designed as an efficient, interoperable standard for delivering 3D content. Often called the "JPEG of 3D", glTF stores 3D scenes and models in a JSON-based format that references binary buffer files (.bin) for mesh geometry data and standard image formats for textures. glTF supports meshes with vertex attributes, PBR (Physically-Based Rendering) materials, skeletal animations, morph targets, scene hierarchy, cameras, lights, and skinning. The format is designed for efficient loading and rendering by GPU APIs (OpenGL, WebGL, Vulkan), minimizing runtime processing by storing data in formats ready for GPU consumption. glTF 2.0 is the current standard, widely supported by Three.js, Babylon.js, Unity, Unreal Engine, Blender, and major web platforms. The format supports extensions for features like KHR_draco_mesh_compression for compressed geometry and KHR_materials_unlit for unlit materials. glTF has been rapidly adopted for web-based 3D, AR/VR applications, e-commerce product visualization, and real-time 3D experiences, becoming the standard interchange format for real-time 3D content.