The Virtual Reality Modeling Language

The Virtual Reality Modeling Language consists of two parts. Part 1 (ISO/IEC 14772-1) defines the base functionality and text encoding for VRML. Part 2 (ISO/IEC FDIS 14772-2) defines the base functionality and all bindings for the VRML External Authoring Interface. The table of contents for part 2 is below.

ISO/IEC FDIS 14772-2:2002

This document is part 2 of ISO/IEC 14772, the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML), also referred to as "VRML 97". The full title of this part of the International Standard is: Information technology -- Computer graphics and image processing -- The Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) -- Part 2: External authoring interface (EAI).

The Foreword provides background on the standards process for VRML. The Introduction describes the purpose, design criteria, and characteristics of VRML. The following clauses define part 2 of ISO/IEC 14772:

1. Scope defines the problem area that the VRML EAI addresses.
2. Normative references lists the normative standards referenced in this part of ISO/IEC 14772.
3. Definitions contains the glossary of terminology used in this part of ISO/IEC 14772.
4. Concepts describes various fundamentals of the VRML external authoring interface.
5. Data types specifies the datatypes used by the VRML EAI functions.
6. Services reference defines the syntax and semantics of VRML EAI functions.
7. Conformance and minimum support requirements describes the conformance requirements for VRML EAI implementations.

There are several annexes included in the specification:

A.       IDL binding reference specifies the binding of the VRML EAI functions to IDL.

B.        Java binding reference specifies the binding of the VRML EAI functions to Java.

C.        Backwards compatibility specifies the means of supporting the previous de facto EAI.