glTexImage3D

glTexImage3D is a function in the OpenGL graphics API used to define a three-dimensional texture object. It specifies the data format, dimensions, and pixel data for a texture that can be sampled in three dimensions.

The function takes several arguments: the texture target (e.g., GL_TEXTURE_3D), the level of detail (mipmaps), the internal format of the texture, the width, height, and depth of the texture, the border width (usually 0), the format of the pixel data, the data type of the pixel data, and a pointer to the actual pixel data.

When calling glTexImage3D, the caller must provide texture data that matches the specified dimensions and format. The internal format determines how the texels are stored and processed by the GPU, while the format and data type describe the incoming pixel data.

This function is crucial for applications that require volumetric rendering, such as medical imaging, scientific visualization, and complex game effects. It allows for the creation of textures that represent data that varies across three spatial axes.

After glTexImage3D is called, the specified texture data is uploaded to the GPU. Subsequent texture sampling operations in shaders will use this data. OpenGL may perform various optimizations, such as compression, on the uploaded data.