.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.

Not described

What this page and the explorer leave out.

  • Reference: the field lists were not checked against the standard text here; the explorer’s own copy of the same definitions agrees with this page on 54 nodes but was also written from memory. Event semantics and ranges are described only briefly.
  • Viewer: draws Box, Sphere, Cone, Cylinder, ElevationGrid, Extrusion, IndexedFaceSet, IndexedLineSet and PointSet with the diffuse colour. Sensors, interpolators, lights, sound, fog, backgrounds, viewpoints, text and textures are listed and checked but not drawn or run.