What is WebGL?

3D JavaScript engines like ThreeJS and BabylonJS use WebGL to render to Canvas to make it easier for JavaScript developers who are not an expert in computer graphics. WebGL is a is a cross-platform, royalty-free web standard for a low-level 3D graphics JavaScript API, or programmable interface, for drawing interactive 2D and 3D graphics in web pages. WebGL connects your web browser up to your device’s graphics card, providing you with far more graphical processing power than is available on a traditional website.

To use WebGL capabilities, you need a device and a browser that supports it. You can check which browsers support WebGL at caniuse.com by searching for WebGL.

According to caniuse.com, 98.16% of the internet users globally are using WebGL 3D Canvas graphics capable device and browser.

Unlike most Web APIs, WebGL is designed and maintained by the non-profit Khronos Group and not World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). WebXR Device APIs and other related APIs to create a 3D experience like Gamepad API are part of W3C.

To learn more check out Wikipedia, Khronos WebGL Wiki or the official Knronos WebGL Repository.