X3Ds

X3Ds is commonly used to refer to X3D content or to the X3D standard for representing three-dimensional graphics. X3D, or Extensible 3D, is an open, ISO/IEC standard designed to describe three-dimensional scenes in a platform- and hardware-neutral way. It evolved from VRML and is maintained by the Web3D Consortium with ISO/IEC standardization to ensure broad interoperability. The standard defines a scene graph consisting of nodes that specify geometry, appearance, lighting, animation, interaction, and sensor events. Users build scenes by composing node types such as shapes, materials, textures, lights, cameras, animations, and prototypes, and can instantiate reusable definitions via ProtoDeclare and ProtoInstance.

X3D provides different encoding forms. The XML encoding is the most widely used today, while a classic VRML-like encoding remains supported for backward compatibility. The language supports profiles and componentized extensions; typical profiles cover core functionality for interchange, with more feature-rich profiles for interactive or immersive applications. The format supports scripting, inline loading of external resources, and event-based interaction, enabling interactive simulations, training content, and educational material.

X3D has seen adoption in education, research, and certain industry sectors, particularly where open standards and long-term accessibility are valued. It integrates with other 3D tools through import/export pipelines and can be rendered by specialized engines and viewers, including standalone applications and, in some cases, browsers via plug-ins or plugins. While not as widely native in consumer web browsers as some other Web 3D formats, X3D remains an active, open-standard option for interoperable 3D content and long-term portability.