glMultiDrawArrays

glMultiDrawArrays is a function in the OpenGL API used for drawing multiple sets of geometric primitives. It allows applications to render numerous distinct arrays of vertices without requiring multiple individual calls to glDrawArrays or glDrawElements. This can lead to performance improvements by reducing the overhead associated with function calls and state changes.

The function takes a count of the number of primitive sets to be drawn, and then pointers to arrays that specify the starting vertex index and the number of vertices for each primitive set. Additionally, it accepts pointers to arrays that define the mode of primitive rendering, such as GL_TRIANGLES, GL_POINTS, or GL_LINES, for each set. This flexibility enables drawing different types of primitives or the same type of primitive with varying configurations in a single call.

By batching multiple draw operations, glMultiDrawArrays helps to minimize CPU-GPU synchronization points and improves data transfer efficiency. It is particularly useful when dealing with scenes composed of many small, independent geometric objects, where individual draw calls would be inefficient. The function requires compatible OpenGL versions and extensions to be supported by the graphics hardware and driver.