.WRL File Format – Nodes

VRML world

VRML97 defines 54 node types. Each is listed below as the specification gives it: every field and event with its kind, type, name and default value, and the allowed range after #, where (…) excludes and […] includes the end. In a file only field and exposedField values are written; events are used by ROUTE. Field types are explained on Syntax and field types.

Grouping nodes

A bboxSize of −1 −1 −1 means no bounding box is given. Transform applies, from the inside out, −center, scaleOrientation⁻¹, scale, scaleOrientation, rotation, center, translation.

Anchor {
  eventIn      MFNode   addChildren
  eventIn      MFNode   removeChildren
  exposedField MFNode   children        []
  exposedField SFString description     ""
  exposedField MFString parameter       []
  exposedField MFString url             []
  field        SFVec3f  bboxCenter      0 0 0      # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f  bboxSize        -1 -1 -1   # (0,inf) or -1,-1,-1
}
Billboard {
  eventIn      MFNode   addChildren
  eventIn      MFNode   removeChildren
  exposedField SFVec3f  axisOfRotation  0 1 0      # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFNode   children        []
  field        SFVec3f  bboxCenter      0 0 0      # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f  bboxSize        -1 -1 -1   # (0,inf) or -1,-1,-1
}
Collision {
  eventIn      MFNode   addChildren
  eventIn      MFNode   removeChildren
  exposedField MFNode   children        []
  exposedField SFBool   collide         TRUE
  field        SFVec3f  bboxCenter      0 0 0      # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f  bboxSize        -1 -1 -1   # (0,inf) or -1,-1,-1
  field        SFNode   proxy           NULL
  eventOut     SFTime   collideTime
}
Group {
  eventIn      MFNode   addChildren
  eventIn      MFNode   removeChildren
  exposedField MFNode   children        []
  field        SFVec3f  bboxCenter      0 0 0      # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f  bboxSize        -1 -1 -1   # (0,inf) or -1,-1,-1
}
Inline {
  exposedField MFString url             []
  field        SFVec3f  bboxCenter      0 0 0      # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f  bboxSize        -1 -1 -1   # (0,inf) or -1,-1,-1
}
LOD {
  exposedField MFNode   level           []
  field        SFVec3f  center          0 0 0      # (-inf,inf)
  field        MFFloat  range           []         # (0,inf)
}
Switch {
  exposedField MFNode   choice          []
  exposedField SFInt32  whichChoice     -1         # [-1,inf)
}
Transform {
  eventIn      MFNode     addChildren
  eventIn      MFNode     removeChildren
  exposedField SFVec3f    center           0 0 0     # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFNode     children         []
  exposedField SFRotation rotation         0 0 1 0   # [-1,1],(-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec3f    scale            1 1 1     # (0,inf)
  exposedField SFRotation scaleOrientation 0 0 1 0   # [-1,1],(-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec3f    translation      0 0 0     # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f    bboxCenter       0 0 0     # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFVec3f    bboxSize         -1 -1 -1  # (0,inf) or -1,-1,-1
}
Grouping nodes

Shapes and appearance

Shape {
  exposedField SFNode appearance NULL
  exposedField SFNode geometry   NULL
}
Appearance {
  exposedField SFNode material         NULL
  exposedField SFNode texture          NULL
  exposedField SFNode textureTransform NULL
}
Material {
  exposedField SFFloat ambientIntensity 0.2         # [0,1]
  exposedField SFColor diffuseColor     0.8 0.8 0.8 # [0,1]
  exposedField SFColor emissiveColor    0 0 0       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFFloat shininess        0.2         # [0,1]
  exposedField SFColor specularColor    0 0 0       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFFloat transparency     0           # [0,1]
}
ImageTexture {
  exposedField MFString url     []
  field        SFBool   repeatS TRUE
  field        SFBool   repeatT TRUE
}
MovieTexture {
  exposedField SFBool   loop      FALSE
  exposedField SFFloat  speed     1.0  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFTime   startTime 0    # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFTime   stopTime  0    # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFString url       []
  field        SFBool   repeatS   TRUE
  field        SFBool   repeatT   TRUE
  eventOut     SFTime   duration_changed
  eventOut     SFBool   isActive
}
PixelTexture {
  exposedField SFImage image   0 0 0
  field        SFBool  repeatS TRUE
  field        SFBool  repeatT TRUE
}
TextureTransform {
  exposedField SFVec2f center      0 0 # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat rotation    0   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec2f scale       1 1 # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec2f translation 0 0 # (-inf,inf)
}
Shape, appearance and texture nodes

Browsers must support JPEG and PNG for ImageTexture and MPEG-1 for MovieTexture.

Geometry

In the index fields of IndexedFaceSet and IndexedLineSet, −1 ends a face or polyline. ccw says whether faces are wound anticlockwise seen from the front, solid whether back faces can be skipped, and creaseAngle (radians) below which edges are smoothed.

Box {
  field SFVec3f size 2 2 2 # (0,inf)
}
Cone {
  field SFFloat bottomRadius 1    # (0,inf)
  field SFFloat height       2    # (0,inf)
  field SFBool  side         TRUE
  field SFBool  bottom       TRUE
}
Cylinder {
  field SFBool  bottom TRUE
  field SFFloat height 2    # (0,inf)
  field SFFloat radius 1    # (0,inf)
  field SFBool  side   TRUE
  field SFBool  top    TRUE
}
Sphere {
  field SFFloat radius 1 # (0,inf)
}
ElevationGrid {
  eventIn      MFFloat set_height
  exposedField SFNode  color           NULL
  exposedField SFNode  normal          NULL
  exposedField SFNode  texCoord        NULL
  field        MFFloat height          []   # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFBool  ccw             TRUE
  field        SFBool  colorPerVertex  TRUE
  field        SFFloat creaseAngle     0    # [0,inf)
  field        SFBool  normalPerVertex TRUE
  field        SFBool  solid           TRUE
  field        SFInt32 xDimension      0    # [0,inf)
  field        SFFloat xSpacing        1.0  # (0,inf)
  field        SFInt32 zDimension      0    # [0,inf)
  field        SFFloat zSpacing        1.0  # (0,inf)
}
Extrusion {
  eventIn MFVec2f    set_crossSection
  eventIn MFRotation set_orientation
  eventIn MFVec2f    set_scale
  eventIn MFVec3f    set_spine
  field   SFBool     beginCap     TRUE
  field   SFBool     ccw          TRUE
  field   SFBool     convex       TRUE
  field   SFFloat    creaseAngle  0                                # [0,inf)
  field   MFVec2f    crossSection [ 1 1, 1 -1, -1 -1, -1 1, 1 1 ]  # (-inf,inf)
  field   SFBool     endCap       TRUE
  field   MFRotation orientation  0 0 1 0                          # [-1,1],(-inf,inf)
  field   MFVec2f    scale        1 1                              # (0,inf)
  field   SFBool     solid        TRUE
  field   MFVec3f    spine        [ 0 0 0, 0 1 0 ]                 # (-inf,inf)
}
IndexedFaceSet {
  eventIn      MFInt32 set_colorIndex
  eventIn      MFInt32 set_coordIndex
  eventIn      MFInt32 set_normalIndex
  eventIn      MFInt32 set_texCoordIndex
  exposedField SFNode  color             NULL
  exposedField SFNode  coord             NULL
  exposedField SFNode  normal            NULL
  exposedField SFNode  texCoord          NULL
  field        SFBool  ccw               TRUE
  field        MFInt32 colorIndex        []   # [-1,inf)
  field        SFBool  colorPerVertex    TRUE
  field        SFBool  convex            TRUE
  field        MFInt32 coordIndex        []   # [-1,inf)
  field        SFFloat creaseAngle       0    # [0,inf)
  field        MFInt32 normalIndex       []   # [-1,inf)
  field        SFBool  normalPerVertex   TRUE
  field        SFBool  solid             TRUE
  field        MFInt32 texCoordIndex     []   # [-1,inf)
}
IndexedLineSet {
  eventIn      MFInt32 set_colorIndex
  eventIn      MFInt32 set_coordIndex
  exposedField SFNode  color          NULL
  exposedField SFNode  coord          NULL
  field        MFInt32 colorIndex     []   # [-1,inf)
  field        SFBool  colorPerVertex TRUE
  field        MFInt32 coordIndex     []   # [-1,inf)
}
PointSet {
  exposedField SFNode color NULL
  exposedField SFNode coord NULL
}
Text {
  exposedField MFString string    []
  exposedField SFNode   fontStyle NULL
  exposedField MFFloat  length    []   # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat  maxExtent 0.0  # [0,inf)
}
FontStyle {
  field MFString family      "SERIF"
  field SFBool   horizontal  TRUE
  field MFString justify     "BEGIN"
  field SFString language    ""
  field SFBool   leftToRight TRUE
  field SFFloat  size        1.0      # (0,inf)
  field SFFloat  spacing     1.0      # [0,inf)
  field SFString style       "PLAIN"
  field SFBool   topToBottom TRUE
}
Geometry nodes and FontStyle

FontStyle values: family "SERIF", "SANS" or "TYPEWRITER"; style "PLAIN", "BOLD", "ITALIC" or "BOLDITALIC"; justify "FIRST", "BEGIN", "MIDDLE" or "END", for the major and optionally the minor direction.

Geometric properties

Color {
  exposedField MFColor color [] # [0,1]
}
Coordinate {
  exposedField MFVec3f point [] # (-inf,inf)
}
Normal {
  exposedField MFVec3f vector [] # (-inf,inf)
}
TextureCoordinate {
  exposedField MFVec2f point [] # (-inf,inf)
}
The value lists that geometry nodes index into

Interpolators

Each maps a fraction (usually from a TimeSensor) through key and keyValue to an output, linearly.

ColorInterpolator {
  eventIn      SFFloat set_fraction  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat key      []   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFColor keyValue []   # [0,1]
  eventOut     SFColor value_changed
}
CoordinateInterpolator {
  eventIn      SFFloat set_fraction  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat key      []   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFVec3f keyValue []   # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     MFVec3f value_changed
}
NormalInterpolator {
  eventIn      SFFloat set_fraction  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat key      []   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFVec3f keyValue []   # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     MFVec3f value_changed
}
OrientationInterpolator {
  eventIn      SFFloat    set_fraction  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat    key      []   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFRotation keyValue []   # [-1,1],(-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFRotation value_changed
}
PositionInterpolator {
  eventIn      SFFloat set_fraction  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat key      []   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFVec3f keyValue []   # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFVec3f value_changed
}
ScalarInterpolator {
  eventIn      SFFloat set_fraction  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat key      []   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFFloat keyValue []   # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFFloat value_changed
}
Interpolator nodes

Sensors

CylinderSensor {
  exposedField SFBool  autoOffset TRUE
  exposedField SFFloat diskAngle  0.262  # (0,pi/2)
  exposedField SFBool  enabled    TRUE
  exposedField SFFloat maxAngle   -1     # [-2pi,2pi]
  exposedField SFFloat minAngle   0      # [-2pi,2pi]
  exposedField SFFloat offset     0      # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFBool     isActive
  eventOut     SFRotation rotation_changed
  eventOut     SFVec3f    trackPoint_changed
}
PlaneSensor {
  exposedField SFBool  autoOffset  TRUE
  exposedField SFBool  enabled     TRUE
  exposedField SFVec2f maxPosition -1 -1  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec2f minPosition 0 0    # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec3f offset      0 0 0  # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFBool  isActive
  eventOut     SFVec3f trackPoint_changed
  eventOut     SFVec3f translation_changed
}
ProximitySensor {
  exposedField SFVec3f center  0 0 0  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec3f size    0 0 0  # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFBool  enabled TRUE
  eventOut     SFBool     isActive
  eventOut     SFVec3f    position_changed
  eventOut     SFRotation orientation_changed
  eventOut     SFTime     enterTime
  eventOut     SFTime     exitTime
}
SphereSensor {
  exposedField SFBool     autoOffset TRUE
  exposedField SFBool     enabled    TRUE
  exposedField SFRotation offset     0 1 0 0  # [-1,1],(-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFBool     isActive
  eventOut     SFRotation rotation_changed
  eventOut     SFVec3f    trackPoint_changed
}
TimeSensor {
  exposedField SFTime  cycleInterval 1      # (0,inf)
  exposedField SFBool  enabled       TRUE
  exposedField SFBool  loop          FALSE
  exposedField SFTime  startTime     0      # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFTime  stopTime      0      # (-inf,inf)
  eventOut     SFTime  cycleTime
  eventOut     SFFloat fraction_changed     # [0,1]
  eventOut     SFBool  isActive
  eventOut     SFTime  time
}
TouchSensor {
  exposedField SFBool  enabled TRUE
  eventOut     SFVec3f hitNormal_changed
  eventOut     SFVec3f hitPoint_changed
  eventOut     SFVec2f hitTexCoord_changed
  eventOut     SFBool  isActive
  eventOut     SFBool  isOver
  eventOut     SFTime  touchTime
}
VisibilitySensor {
  exposedField SFVec3f center  0 0 0  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFBool  enabled TRUE
  exposedField SFVec3f size    0 0 0  # [0,inf)
  eventOut     SFTime  enterTime
  eventOut     SFTime  exitTime
  eventOut     SFBool  isActive
}
Sensor nodes

Lights

DirectionalLight {
  exposedField SFFloat ambientIntensity 0       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFColor color            1 1 1   # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f direction        0 0 -1  # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat intensity        1       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFBool  on               TRUE
}
PointLight {
  exposedField SFFloat ambientIntensity 0       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f attenuation      1 0 0   # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFColor color            1 1 1   # [0,1]
  exposedField SFFloat intensity        1       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f location         0 0 0   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFBool  on               TRUE
  exposedField SFFloat radius           100     # [0,inf)
}
SpotLight {
  exposedField SFFloat ambientIntensity 0         # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f attenuation      1 0 0     # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat beamWidth        1.570796  # (0,pi/2]
  exposedField SFColor color            1 1 1     # [0,1]
  exposedField SFFloat cutOffAngle      0.785398  # (0,pi/2]
  exposedField SFVec3f direction        0 0 -1    # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat intensity        1         # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f location         0 0 0     # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFBool  on               TRUE
  exposedField SFFloat radius           100       # [0,inf)
}
Light nodes

attenuation gives the constant, linear and quadratic terms of 1 ÷ max(a₁ + a₂r + a₃r², 1), where r is the distance from the light.

Bindable nodes

Only one of each of these is active at a time; sending TRUE to set_bind makes a node the current one, and the first one in the file is current at the start.

Background {
  eventIn      SFBool   set_bind
  exposedField MFFloat  groundAngle []     # [0,pi/2]
  exposedField MFColor  groundColor []     # [0,1]
  exposedField MFString backUrl     []
  exposedField MFString bottomUrl   []
  exposedField MFString frontUrl    []
  exposedField MFString leftUrl     []
  exposedField MFString rightUrl    []
  exposedField MFString topUrl      []
  exposedField MFFloat  skyAngle    []     # [0,pi]
  exposedField MFColor  skyColor    0 0 0  # [0,1]
  eventOut     SFBool   isBound
}
Fog {
  exposedField SFColor  color           1 1 1     # [0,1]
  exposedField SFString fogType         "LINEAR"
  exposedField SFFloat  visibilityRange 0         # [0,inf)
  eventIn      SFBool   set_bind
  eventOut     SFBool   isBound
}
NavigationInfo {
  eventIn      SFBool   set_bind
  exposedField MFFloat  avatarSize      [ 0.25, 1.6, 0.75 ]  # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFBool   headlight       TRUE
  exposedField SFFloat  speed           1.0                  # [0,inf)
  exposedField MFString type            [ "WALK", "ANY" ]
  exposedField SFFloat  visibilityLimit 0.0                  # [0,inf)
  eventOut     SFBool   isBound
}
Viewpoint {
  eventIn      SFBool     set_bind
  exposedField SFFloat    fieldOfView 0.785398  # (0,pi)
  exposedField SFBool     jump        TRUE
  exposedField SFRotation orientation 0 0 1 0   # [-1,1],(-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFVec3f    position    0 0 10    # (-inf,inf)
  field        SFString   description ""
  eventOut     SFTime     bindTime
  eventOut     SFBool     isBound
}
Bindable nodes

fogType is "LINEAR" or "EXPONENTIAL". NavigationInfo type values are "WALK", "EXAMINE", "FLY", "NONE" and "ANY"; avatarSize is the collision distance, the eye height and the tallest step the viewer can climb.

Sound

AudioClip {
  exposedField SFString description ""
  exposedField SFBool   loop        FALSE
  exposedField SFFloat  pitch       1.0    # (0,inf)
  exposedField SFTime   startTime   0      # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFTime   stopTime    0      # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField MFString url         []
  eventOut     SFTime   duration_changed
  eventOut     SFBool   isActive
}
Sound {
  exposedField SFVec3f direction  0 0 1   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat intensity  1       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f location   0 0 0   # (-inf,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat maxBack    10      # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat maxFront   10      # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat minBack    1       # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat minFront   1       # [0,inf)
  exposedField SFFloat priority   0       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFNode  source     NULL
  field        SFBool  spatialize TRUE
}
Sound nodes

Browsers must support uncompressed PCM WAV files for AudioClip, and the specification recommends MIDI type 1 files as well.

Script and WorldInfo

Script {
  exposedField MFString url          []
  field        SFBool   directOutput FALSE
  field        SFBool   mustEvaluate FALSE
  # and any number of:
  eventIn      eventType eventName
  field        fieldType fieldName initialValue
  eventOut     eventType eventName
}
WorldInfo {
  field MFString info  []
  field SFString title ""
}
Script, whose interface the author declares, and WorldInfo

A Script’s url names its code, as a file or inline with a protocol such as javascript:; the specification describes ECMAScript and Java bindings.