GLUNSIGNEDSHORT

GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT is a GLenum constant in the OpenGL API that designates an unsigned 16-bit integer data type. It is used by many OpenGL functions to indicate the format of numeric data stored in buffers, such as element indices or vertex attribute data. The constant corresponds to 2-byte unsigned integers and is typically defined in the GL headers with the value 0x1403.

Common uses include specifying the type parameter in glDrawElements when supplying an index buffer, and in glVertexAttribPointer or glVertexAttribIPointer when defining the data type of vertex attribute data stored in a GL_ARRAY_BUFFER. It can also appear in contexts involving pixel transfer or packed formats that use 16-bit unsigned values, such as certain texture formats.

Size, range, and interpretation are defined by the 16-bit unsigned integer type: a value range of 0 to 65535 and a storage size of 2 bytes per element. When used with vertex attribute pointers, the numerical interpretation of the data in shaders may depend on whether the data is treated as integer inputs (via the IPointer variant and integer shader inputs) or as floating-point values (via the standard Pointer variant with normalization options).

Notes and related concepts: GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT is one of several unsigned integer data types in OpenGL, alongside GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE and GL_UNSIGNED_INT. It is part of the OpenGL integer data type family and is selected by specifying the type parameter in relevant API calls. Proper usage depends on the particular function and shader requirements.