glTexture

glTexture is a function in the OpenGL programming interface used to specify a texture for rendering. Introduced in OpenGL 4.2 as part of the modern OpenGL pipeline, it replaces the older glBindTexture and glTexImage functions by combining texture binding and image specification into a single operation. This function is part of the texture object management system, which allows for more efficient texture handling and management.

The glTexture function takes several parameters: the texture target (such as GL_TEXTURE_2D or GL_TEXTURE_3D), the texture object name, the level-of-detail (LOD) number, the format of the texture data, the internal format specifying how the texture data is stored, the width and height (or depth) of the texture, the border width (typically zero), the format of the source data, the data type of the source data, and a pointer to the actual texture data. It is designed to work with texture objects, which are created using glCreateTextures or glGenTextures.

One of the primary advantages of glTexture is its ability to specify texture parameters and generate mipmaps in a single call, streamlining the texture creation process. It also supports texture views, allowing a single texture object to be used in multiple contexts with different configurations. This function is particularly useful in modern OpenGL applications where texture management is optimized for performance and flexibility.

glTexture is supported in OpenGL versions 4.2 and later, as well as in OpenGL ES 3.0 and above. It is part of the core OpenGL specification, meaning it is always available without requiring additional extensions. Developers using this function benefit from a more streamlined workflow, particularly when working with multiple textures or complex texture configurations.