GPUComputeShader

GPUComputeShader is a type of shader program that runs on a graphics processing unit (GPU) but is not directly involved in rendering traditional graphics. Instead, it's designed for general-purpose computation, allowing developers to harness the massive parallel processing power of GPUs for tasks beyond graphics.

Compute shaders operate on data in memory buffers, rather than textures or framebuffers, and can read and write to these buffers. This enables them to perform complex calculations, simulations, and data processing at speeds far exceeding what is possible on a CPU. Common applications include scientific simulations, physics engines, artificial intelligence and machine learning tasks, video encoding and decoding, and image processing.

Unlike vertex or fragment shaders, compute shaders have a more flexible execution model. They can be launched with a user-defined grid of threads, allowing for fine-grained control over how work is distributed across the GPU's many cores. This programmability makes them a powerful tool for optimizing performance-intensive workloads.

Compute shaders are accessed through graphics APIs like DirectX, Vulkan, and Metal. While they are part of graphics APIs, their use is for computation, and the results can then be used by traditional rendering pipelines or for other non-graphical purposes.