RenderTarget

A render target is a graphical resource, typically a texture, that acts as the destination for rendering operations in computer graphics. Instead of drawing directly to the screen, a render target allows graphics applications to draw to an off-screen buffer. This buffer can then be used in various ways.

The primary purpose of a render target is to enable post-processing effects. By rendering a scene to a texture, developers can then apply filters or modifications to that texture before displaying it. This is essential for effects like blur, bloom, color correction, and depth of field.

Render targets are also crucial for techniques such as deferred rendering, where lighting and material information is first rendered into separate buffers, and then combined in a subsequent pass. They are used for creating reflections and shadows by rendering the scene from different viewpoints. In 3D applications, render targets facilitate the creation of shadow maps and cube maps for environment mapping.

The specific implementation and capabilities of render targets vary depending on the graphics API being used, such as DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan. However, the fundamental concept of using an off-screen texture as a drawing destination remains consistent across these platforms. This flexibility makes render targets a fundamental building block in modern real-time graphics rendering.