glGen

glGen is a family of OpenGL functions used to generate unique non-zero names (identifiers) for various OpenGL object types. These functions do not create the objects themselves; instead, they reserve object names that can later be bound and instantiated through subsequent calls. Common examples include glGenBuffers, glGenVertexArrays, glGenTextures, glGenFramebuffers, glGenRenderbuffers, glGenSamplers, glGenQueries, and glGenTransformFeedbacks.

Prototype and behavior: each function follows the pattern void glGenXxx(GLsizei n, GLuint *ids), where n is the number of names to generate and ids is a pointer to an array that will receive n distinct, unused names. The returned names are not zero and are not associated with any storage until you bind them and provide the corresponding resource data or state. For instance, glGenBuffers generates buffer object names; after generation you typically bind with glBindBuffer and allocate storage with glBufferData or glBufferStorage. Similarly, glGenTextures provides texture names that you configure with glBindTexture and glTexImage* calls; glGenVertexArrays provides VAO names bound with glBindVertexArray.

Usage pattern: ensure a current OpenGL context before calling glGen*. Generate the needed number of names, then bind and populate the objects as required. When the objects are no longer needed, delete them with glDeleteBuffers, glDeleteTextures, glDeleteVertexArrays, etc., which frees the names for reuse.

Notes: the names are non-zero identifiers; 0 is reserved. glGen must be called within a valid context, and generated names may be reused after deletion. glGen is a core part of resource management across multiple OpenGL object types.