glClearBufferfv

glClearBufferfv is a function in the OpenGL and OpenGL ES graphics APIs used to clear a specified buffer with floating-point values. This function is part of the broader buffer clearing functionality, offering more granular control than the standard glClear function.

The primary purpose of glClearBufferfv is to set all the bits of a buffer, such as a color buffer, depth buffer, or stencil buffer, to a specific floating-point value. This is particularly useful when working with floating-point formats for these buffers, where a direct integer clear might not be appropriate or desired.

The function takes several arguments: a buffer target indicating which buffer to clear, an integer specifying the draw buffer index for color buffers, and a pointer to an array of floating-point values. For color buffers, the array typically contains four values representing red, green, blue, and alpha components. For depth buffers, it's a single value for the depth. For stencil buffers, it's a single integer value, although glClearBufferfv is designed for floating-point clear values.

Using glClearBufferfv allows developers to initialize buffers with precise floating-point data, which can be crucial for certain rendering techniques and algorithms that rely on specific initial states for floating-point buffers. It provides a more flexible and targeted approach to buffer clearing compared to the more general glClear function.