OpenGL ES - The Standard for Embedded 3D Graphics Acceleration

OpenGL ES (Open Graphics Library for Embedded Systems) is a streamlined version of the OpenGL API designed for mobile and embedded devices. It consists of a well-defined subset of desktop OpenGL suitable for low-power devices, and provides a flexible and powerful interface between software and graphics acceleration hardware. OpenGL ES is widely deployed across smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, and wearable devices, and is supported on Android. It also powers web graphics through WebGL, which is built on top of OpenGL ES, making it one of the most widely deployed graphics standards in the world.

The Evolution of OpenGL ES

OpenGL ES API Versions at a Glance

• OpenGL ES 3.2 - Additional OpenGL functionality
  • OpenGL ES 3.2 adds functionality based on the Android Extension Pack for OpenGL ES 3.1, which brought the mobile API's functionality significantly closer to its desktop counterpart - OpenGL. View OpenGL ES 3.2 Reference Pages.
• OpenGL ES 3.1 - Bringing Compute to Mobile Graphics
  • Despite being only a bump in the minor revision of the API, OpenGL ES 3.1 was an enormous milestone for the API, as it added the ability to do general purpose compute in the API, bringing compute to mobile graphics. View OpenGL ES 3.1 Reference Pages.
• OpenGL ES 3.0 - Enhanced Graphics
  • OpenGL ES 3.0 was another evolutionary step for OpenGL ES, notably including multiple render targets, additional texturing capabilities, uniform buffers, instancing and transform feedback. OpenGL 3.0 Reference Pages.
• OpenGL ES 2.0 - Programmable Shading
  • OpenGL ES 2.0 was the first portable mobile graphics API to expose programmable shaders in the then latest generation of graphics hardware. It remains a prevalent API today, and still is the most widely available 3D graphics API, and remains a solid choice to target the widest range of devices in the market. View OpenGL ES 2.0 Reference Pages.
• OpenGL ES 1.x - Fixed Function Graphics
  • OpenGL ES 1.0 and 1.1 were the first portable mobile graphics APIs, defined relative to the OpenGL 1.5 specification, providing fixed function graphics acceleration. View OpenGL ES 1.1 Reference Pages.

Specifications, Headers and Dev Tools

Key OpenGL ES Resources

Thanks to the support of the Khronos membership and our passionate developer community, there is a full set of well-supported developer tools and resources to help quickly get you up and running with your OpenGl ES application development.

Popular Books and Tutorials for Getting Started

OpenGL ES Academy

Several excellent OpenGL ES specific, and Shading Language resources exist to help you get started with your OpenGL ES Development and help get you productive quickly.

Broad Deployment

Implementers of OpenGL ES

The following companies are known to have implemented openGL ES. View a complete list of companies and their Conformant OpenGL ES Products.