vdb

VDB is an acronym that can refer to several concepts across technology and data management. In computer graphics and visual effects, it most commonly denotes OpenVDB, an open-source library and file format for storing and manipulating volumetric data.

OpenVDB uses a sparse, hierarchical, grid-based representation to store voxel data efficiently. It supports multiple grids per volume (for example, arrays of voxels, level-set surfaces, or fog volumes), with per-voxel data channels and tools for resampling, filtering, subdivision, and surface generation. The data structure is designed to be memory-efficient and fast for SIMD-accelerated operations, enabling large-scale simulations and renders.

Files use the .vdb extension and are designed to be portable across platforms. The library provides a C++ API with Python bindings and is distributed under an open-source license. It integrates with major 3D software packages and renderers, including Houdini, Blender, Maya, Arnold, and Cycles, facilitating workflows that involve volumetric effects.

Beyond OpenVDB, VDB can refer to Virtual Database or data virtualization in information management, a concept that provides a unified interface to query data stored in multiple sources without moving it. Context determines whether VDB means a volumetric data library or a data-management concept.

OpenVDB has become a standard tool in film, animation, and game production for creating and manipulating volumetric phenomena such as smoke, fire, clouds, and fog, as well as for simulations and rendering optimizations.