WebGL is a JavaScript API that allows hardware-accelerated 2D and 3D graphics rendering in the browser. It is based on OpenGL ES 2.0 and can use the GPU to achieve high-performance graphics processing without plug-ins. It is suitable for applications such as gaming, data visualization and interactive animation. The reasons why the front-end uses it include: 1. Supports cross-platform operation; 2. No additional plug-ins are required; 3. It can be combined with HTML/CSS/JS to build a complete interactive experience; 4. There are rich libraries to support such as Three.js, Babylon.js, etc. To start creating a 3D scene with WebGL, the basic steps are: get canvas and initialize the context; write and compile the shader; link the program; set the buffer to pass in vertex data; configure the viewport and projection parameters; and finally render the scene. Common recommendation libraries include: Three.js (suitable for rapid development), Babylon.js (suitable for gaming), A-Frame (suitable for WebVR), and PixiJS (suitable for 2D). Common problems during development include difficult performance optimization, compatibility issues, debugging difficulties, and slow model loading. It is recommended to solve them by reducing draw calls, testing multiple browsers, checking compilation status, and using glTF format models. It is also recommended that beginners start from Three.js to learn in depth.

WebGL is a key technology for achieving high-performance 3D graphics rendering in front-end development, and is especially suitable for directly running complex graphics applications in the browser, such as games, data visualization and interactive animation. It is based on OpenGL ES 2.0 and can directly operate the GPU to draw graphics without any plug-ins.

What is WebGL? Why does the front-end use it to do 3D?

WebGL (Web Graphics Library) is a JavaScript API that allows developers to perform hardware-accelerated 2D and 3D graphics rendering on web pages. Unlike traditional Canvas 2D, WebGL utilizes users' graphics card resources to make complex graphics processing efficient.

The reason why the front-end uses WebGL to do 3D is mainly because it:

• Supports cross-platform and can run in mainstream browsers;
• No additional plug-ins are required;
• You can combine HTML/CSS/JS to build a complete interactive experience;
• There are rich library support (such as Three.js, Babylon.js), which lowers the development threshold.

How to start creating 3D scenes with WebGL?

To write a WebGL program from scratch, you need to master basic shader language (GLSL), matrix operations, and graph pipeline knowledge. However, in most cases, it is recommended to use encapsulated libraries to simplify the process.

If you decide to do it yourself, the general steps are as follows:

• Get the canvas element and initialize the WebGL context;
• Write vertex and fragment shader code;
• Link shader compiled into a program;
• Set the buffer and pass in vertex data;
• Set parameters such as viewport, projection matrix, etc.
• Render the scene.

Of course, this is just a basic process. In actual development, it also needs to deal with lighting, texture, camera control and other aspects.

What are the recommended WebGL libraries?

Although native WebGL is powerful, the learning curve is steep. For most projects, using mature libraries will be more efficient. Here are several commonly used WebGL libraries:

• Three.js : One of the most popular WebGL libraries, full documentation and active community, suitable for quickly building 3D scenes.
• Babylon.js : Maintained by Microsoft, with a built-in physics engine and editor, suitable for game development.
• A-Frame : HTML-based framework, suitable for building WebVR projects, with simple and intuitive syntax.
• PixiJS : It is mainly used for 2D rendering, but also supports some 3D effects and has excellent performance.

Most of these libraries offer ready-made cameras, lighting, materials and model loaders, allowing you to focus on logic and interactive design.

Common problems and solutions during development

Some common questions when developing with WebGL include:

• Difficulty in performance optimization : Especially on mobile devices, pay attention to reducing draw calls, merging geometry, and using texture compression reasonably.
• Compatibility issues : Different browsers have slightly different support for WebGL, and the mainstream browsers must be covered during testing.
• Debugging is difficult : WebGL error message is usually unfriendly, and you can check it by checking the compilation status of the shader, checking the GPU usage status, etc.
• Slow model loading : It is recommended to use glTF format model, which is small in size, fast in loading, and is widely supported.

In addition, if you are a beginner, it is recommended to start with Three.js, learn and practice, and gradually deepen the underlying principles.

Basically that's it. WebGL is a powerful but detailed technology that may feel a little difficult at first, but once you master the core concept, you can create cool 3D effects.

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