Editing Direct3D (section)

{{Short description|API used in Microsoft DirectX for 3D rendering}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Direct3D
| title = Direct3D
| logo = <!-- Image name is enough -->
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| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| released = {{Start date and age|1996|6|2}}
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| latest release version = 12.0 Beta 3
| latest release date = {{Start date and age|2015|01|13|df=}}
| latest preview version = 
| latest preview date = <!-- {{Start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|df=yes/no}} -->
| programming language = 
| operating system = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Windows CE]], [[Windows Embedded]], [[Xbox system software]]
| platform = [[x86]], [[ARM architecture family|ARM]]
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| genre = [[3D computer graphics]] API
| license = Proprietary
| website = {{URL|https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/direct3d}}
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'''Direct3D''' is a graphics [[application programming interface]] (API) for [[Microsoft Windows]]. Part of [[DirectX]], Direct3D is used to render [[3D computer graphics|three-dimensional graphics]] in applications where performance is important, such as games. Direct3D uses [[hardware acceleration]] if available on the [[graphics card]], allowing for hardware acceleration of the entire 3D [[rendering pipeline]] or even only partial acceleration. Direct3D exposes the advanced graphics capabilities of 3D graphics hardware, including [[Z-buffering]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb205074(v=vs.85).aspx|title=Configuring Depth-Stencil Functionality|date=August 19, 2020 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> W-buffering,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb281055(v=vs.85).aspx|title=RenderStateManager.UseWBuffer|date=November 6, 2009 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> [[stencil buffer]]ing, [[spatial anti-aliasing]], [[alpha compositing|alpha blending]], color blending, [[mipmap]]ping, texture blending,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb206241(v=vs.85)|title=Texture Blending (Direct3D 9)|date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb173463(v=vs.85).aspx|title=Geometry Blending (Direct3D 9)|date=January 6, 2021 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> [[Clipping (computer graphics)|clipping]], [[hidden-surface determination|culling]], atmospheric effects, perspective-correct [[texture mapping]], programmable [[HLSL]] [[shaders]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/bb509561(v=vs.85).aspx|title=HLSL|date=August 4, 2021 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> and effects.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/ff476136(v=vs.85).aspx|title=Effects (Direct3D 11)|date=June 11, 2021 |publisher=Microsoft}}</ref> Integration with other DirectX technologies enables Direct3D to deliver such features as video mapping, hardware 3D rendering in 2D [[video overlay|overlay]] planes, and even [[sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]], providing the use of 2D and 3D graphics in interactive media ties.

Direct3D contains many commands for [[3D computer graphics]] rendering; however, since version 8, Direct3D has superseded the [[DirectDraw]] framework and also taken responsibility for the rendering of [[2D computer graphics|2D graphics]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=9977 |title=DirectX Software Development Kit, October 2006 |publisher=Microsoft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111102052207/http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=9977 |archive-date=2011-11-02 }}</ref> Microsoft strives to continually update Direct3D to support the latest technology available on 3D graphics cards. Direct3D offers full vertex software [[emulator|emulation]] but no pixel software emulation for features not available in hardware. For example, if software programmed using Direct3D requires [[pixel shader]]s and the [[video card]] on the user's computer does not support that feature, Direct3D will not emulate it, although it will compute and render the polygons and textures of the 3D models, albeit at a usually degraded quality and performance compared to the hardware equivalent. The API does include a ''[[Reference Rasterizer]]'' (or REF device), which emulates a generic graphics card in software, although it is too slow for most real-time 3D applications and is typically only used for debugging. A new real-time software rasterizer, ''[[Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform|WARP]]'', designed to emulate the complete feature set of Direct3D 10.1, is included with [[Windows 7]] and [[Windows Vista|Windows Vista Service Pack 2]] with the Platform Update; its performance is said to be on par with lower-end 3D cards on multi-core CPUs.<ref name=WARPguide>{{cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/gg615082#architecture |title=Windows Advanced Rasterization Platform (WARP) Guide – WARP Architecture and Performance|date=October 11, 2022 | publisher=MSDN}}</ref>

As part of [[DirectX]], Direct3D is available for [[Windows 95]] and above, and is the base for the [[vector graphics]] API on the different versions of [[Xbox]] console systems. The [[Wine (software)|Wine]] compatibility layer, a [[free software]] reimplementation of several Windows APIs, includes an implementation of Direct3D.

Direct3D's main competitor is Khronos' [[OpenGL]] and its follow-on [[Vulkan]]. [[Fahrenheit (graphics API)|Fahrenheit]] was an attempt by Microsoft and [[Silicon Graphics|SGI]] to unify OpenGL and Direct3D in the 1990s, but was eventually cancelled.