VRML

VRML (Virtual Reality Modeling Language) is a 3D vector format for defining interactive objects and environments. It was designed to be Web-friendly, but ultimately failed to be supported by most web browsers. It was, however, used to some extent in CAD/CAM, where it's known as "WRL files" due to its extension.

Despite the name, it is not related to virtual reality technology other than being a 3D format. For a time prior to its release, it was named Virtual Reality Markup Language.

There are two versions: VRML 1.0, and VRML97 (also known as VRML 2.0). VRML97 is standardized in ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997.

The successor to VRML is X3D.

Identifiers
The filename extension for uncompressed VRML files is .wrl (derived from the word "world").

WRL files are sometimes gzip-compressed. Such files may use an extension of .wrz, .wrl.gz, or may still use .wrl.

Identification
VRML 1.0 files begin with the ASCII string " ".

VRML97 files begin with the ASCII string " ".

(If the file is gzip-compressed, it must be decompressed first.)

Specifications

 * VRML specifications

Sample files

 * VRML Samples from the Open Virtual Reality Testbed
 * http://www.ocnus.com/models/
 * Free VRML aircrafts
 * https://telparia.com/fileFormatSamples/poly/vrml/

Links

 * Wikipedia page
 * VRML Archives from Web3D Consortium
 * Internet Archive copy of 1996 CD-ROM about using VRML