glVertexPointer

Name

glVertexPointer — define an array of vertex data

C Specification

void glVertexPointer(	GLint	size,
	GLenum	type,
	GLsizei	stride,
	const GLvoid *	pointer);

Parameters

size

Specifies the number of coordinates per vertex. Must be 2, 3, or 4. The initial value is 4.

type

Specifies the data type of each coordinate in the array. Symbolic constants GL_SHORT, GL_INT, GL_FLOAT, or GL_DOUBLE are accepted. The initial value is GL_FLOAT.

stride

Specifies the byte offset between consecutive vertices. If stride is 0, the vertices are understood to be tightly packed in the array. The initial value is 0.

pointer

Specifies a pointer to the first coordinate of the first vertex in the array. The initial value is 0.

Description

glVertexPointer specifies the location and data format of an array of vertex coordinates to use when rendering. size specifies the number of coordinates per vertex, and must be 2, 3, or 4. type specifies the data type of each coordinate, and stride specifies the byte stride from one vertex to the next, allowing vertices and attributes to be packed into a single array or stored in separate arrays. (Single-array storage may be more efficient on some implementations; see glInterleavedArrays.)

If a non-zero named buffer object is bound to the GL_ARRAY_BUFFER target (see glBindBuffer) while a vertex array is specified, pointer is treated as a byte offset into the buffer object's data store. Also, the buffer object binding (GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING) is saved as vertex array client-side state (GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING).

When a vertex array is specified, size, type, stride, and pointer are saved as client-side state, in addition to the current vertex array buffer object binding.

To enable and disable the vertex array, call glEnableClientState and glDisableClientState with the argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY. If enabled, the vertex array is used when glArrayElement, glDrawArrays, glMultiDrawArrays,glDrawElements, glMultiDrawElements, or glDrawRangeElements is called.

Notes

glVertexPointer is available only if the GL version is 1.1 or greater.

The vertex array is initially disabled and isn't accessed when glArrayElement, glDrawElements, glDrawRangeElements, glDrawArrays, glMultiDrawArrays, or glMultiDrawElements is called.

Execution of glVertexPointer is not allowed between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd, but an error may or may not be generated. If no error is generated, the operation is undefined.

glVertexPointer is typically implemented on the client side.

Vertex array parameters are client-side state and are therefore not saved or restored by glPushAttrib and glPopAttrib. Use glPushClientAttrib and glPopClientAttrib instead.

Errors

GL_INVALID_VALUE is generated if size is not 2, 3, or 4.

GL_INVALID_ENUM is generated if type is not an accepted value.

GL_INVALID_VALUE is generated if stride is negative.

Associated Gets

glIsEnabled with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY

glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_SIZE

glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_TYPE

glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_STRIDE

glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING

glGet with argument GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING

glGetPointerv with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_POINTER

See Also

glArrayElement, glBindBuffer, glColorPointer, glDisableClientState, glDrawArrays, glDrawElements, glDrawRangeElements, glEdgeFlagPointer, glEnableClientState, glFogCoordPointer, glIndexPointer, glInterleavedArrays,glMultiDrawArrays, glMultiDrawElements, glNormalPointer, glPopClientAttrib, glPushClientAttrib, glSecondaryColorPointer, glTexCoordPointer, glVertex, glVertexAttribPointer

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