VRMLs

VRMLs, or VRML files, are documents written in the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) that describe 3D scenes for the web in a platform-neutral way. A VRML file typically contains a scene graph made of nodes that define geometry, appearance, lighting, sensor-driven behavior, and navigation. Common geometry nodes include Sphere, Box, Cylinder, and IndexedFaceSet; appearance nodes define Material, Texture, and Color; Light nodes add illumination; and a set of Sensor and Interpolator nodes enable animation and interactivity. A VRML file may also include camera viewpoints, navigation instructions, and metadata such as WorldInfo to describe the scene.

History and evolution: VRML was developed in the 1990s to provide a standard for 3D content on the internet. VRML 1.0 introduced the core concepts and node types. VRML 2.0, standardized later in the decade, added a more robust programming model, Script nodes, and improved interactivity. The format found use in education, product visualization, and early online worlds, but its popularity waned as web technologies evolved.

File format and encoding: VRML documents are text-based and commonly use the .wrl extension, though binary and compressed variants existed. They describe a scene using a human-readable syntax, and could be embedded in web pages through plugins or external viewers. Tools and browsers of the era provided rendering and interaction capabilities for these files.

Legacy and successors: With the rise of WebGL and the XML-based X3D standard, VRMLs gradually faded from mainstream use. X3D inherits many concepts from VRML and has become a more flexible, widely adopted framework for web-based 3D graphics. Despite the decline in general use, VRMLs remain of historical interest and appear in legacy datasets and older educational materials.