GLTF file format: what it is and how to use it

glTF is the JPEG of 3D: Khronos' compact format for delivering complete scenes with PBR materials, rigs and animation straight to runtimes and browsers. Learn when to use it and what to choose instead.

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What is a GLTF file?

A .gltf file is a 3D scene in the GL Transmission Format, Khronos's 2015 design for delivering 3D: a JSON scene graph plus binary buffers for meshes, textures, PBR materials, skeletons and animations, or everything packed into a single .glb. It is deliberately the last mile: shaped for the GPU to consume directly, not for the artist to keep editing.

When should you use glTF?

  • 3D on the web: Three.js, Babylon and <model-viewer> speak it natively.
  • AR and product viewers: phones render it directly, including AR Quick Look paths.
  • Engine interchange: Unity, Unreal and Godot all import and export it.

When is another format a better fit?

For authoring exchange between DCC tools, FBX/DAE still carry more editorial nuance; for printing use 3MF/STL; for a bare mesh OBJ is simpler. glTF is the format you publish to, not the one you sculpt in.

The short version: glTF is the delivery standard for 3D, the format your scene should become before it meets a browser or runtime.

How to open a GLTF file

On Windows

Double-click the file, or open it with Microsoft 3D Viewer.

On macOS

Blender opens GLTF files on macOS.

In your browser

Open GLTF files right in a browser tab or with the dexrr viewer. No install, no upload.

Also opens in

  • Blender
  • Microsoft 3D Viewer
  • three.js / Babylon.js viewers
  • Sketchfab

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A quick preview or a new format. No install, no upload.

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GLTF technical details

Full name
GL Transmission Format
Extensions
.gltf .glb
MIME type
model/gltf+json, model/gltf-binary
Magic bytes
67 6C 54 46 (glTF, .glb) / JSON text (.gltf)
Compression
Lossless or lossy
Developer
Khronos Group
Specification
registry.khronos.org

GLTF questions, answered

How do I open a .gltf file?

Blender, Windows 3D Viewer, VS Code extensions, engines and web viewers read it. dexrr displays and converts gltf files directly in your browser.

Can I convert GLTF files online?

Yes, dexrr converts gltf locally in your browser: glTF to OBJ for mesh use, glTF to STL for printing or glTF to PLY for pipelines.

What is the difference between .gltf and .glb?

Same format. .gltf splits JSON and buffers (often with external textures), .glb packs everything into one binary file. .glb is easier to move around.

Is glTF better than FBX?

For delivery and the web, yes: open, compact and GPU-friendly. For studio authoring, FBX still carries more of what DCC tools expect.

Is the glTF format outdated?

No, it is the actively maintained Khronos standard for real-time 3D and the default of web 3D and AR.