Who we are:  Web3D Consortium is a non-profit Standards Development Organization (SDO) that produces Open Standards for Real-Time 3D Communication.  Web3D participates as a Class A Liaison in ISO/IEC JTC 1/ SC 24 to produce International Standards.

Stable repeatable progress for users, modelers, and software developers requires the long-term steady evolution of the X3D Graphics and Humanoid Animation (HAnim) International Standards.  Web3D Consortium members work in tandem with the X3D community to produce well-written, well-tested specification documents that define, demonstrate, and refine all X3D and HAnim standards as they continue to improve.  Onward we go!

Our current strategy for consolidation of all X3D Specifications to match X3D Architecture version 4.0 is actually quite simple:

• update all X3D file encodings in 2025, and
• update all X3D programming-language bindings in 2026.

X3D Standards Working Group editors meet weekly to review public comments, edit draft standards documents, and build upon continuing progress.

Current specification editing (progressing this week in SC 24 annual meeting)

The following specifications are being updated and submitted to ISO/IEC SC24 for publication review.  These revision efforts are part of making all X3D specifications consistent with the full capabilities of the X3D 4.0 Architecture.

Following legacy SC24 procedures for ISO:

• X3D Scene Authoring Interface (SAI) 4.0 draft revision 19775-2, ready for advancement from CD to DIS 

Ready to follow ISO/IEC JTC 1 Publicly Available Specification (PAS) procedures:

• X3D XML Encoding 4.0 draft revision 19776-1, implemented widely
• X3D Classic VRML Encoding 4.0 draft revision 19776-2, implemented widely
• X3D Compressed Binary Encoding (CBE) 4.0 draft revision 19776-3, implemented
  • Describes use of Fast Infoset, gzip, zip algorithms
  • Notes considerations for glTF binary (.glb)

Assets for Continuing Progress

The following assets support the careful, deliberate, and consensus-based advancement of these specifications.

• X3D Architecture 4.0 International Standard (IS) 19775-1 is the common functional baseline for all other X3D standards, allowing consistent X3D capabilities across multiple file encodings and multiple programming-language API bindings.
• X3D Graphics Standards Relationships diagram provides "big picture" showing common alignment for all of these standards.
• Mantis Issue Tracker (Web3D member access) tracks community dialog, resolution of technical issues, and eventual disposition of all Web3D standards.
• Github specifications archive (Web3D member access) provides version control for every specification document.
• ISO/IEC SC24 Computer Graphics, image processing and environmental data representation is our parent ISO standardization group.
• INCITS H3 Graphics and Imaging is our parent National Standards Body in the USA.

Expected ongoing work 2025-2026

We are on track to update all X3D file encodings in 2025, and all X3D programming-language bindings in 2026.  These specification revisions will follow the Publicly Available Specification (PAS) process, notifyijng SC 24 of milestone progress.  We expect to advance multiple standards in groups at 6-month intervals.

• X3D Efficient XML Interchange (EXI) Encoding
  • add 19776-4, implemented, applies W3C EXI in concert with XML Security
• X3D JSON Encoding
  • add 19776-5, implemented, needs JSON Schema autogenerated by X3DUOM
• X3D Semantic Web Turtle Encoding
  • ​add 19776-6, implemented
• X3D ECMAScript (JavaScript) (current version 3.1)
  • ​update 19777-1
• X3D Java Programming (current version 3.0)
  • update 19776-2, implemented as X3DJSAIL
• X3D Python Programming
  • add 19777-6, implemented as X3DPSAIL x3d.py
• X3D C, C++, C# Programming (current version 3.3)
  • update 19777-3, 4, 5

Meanwhile, incremental evolution of our primary capabilities continues.

• X3D Architecture 4.1, draft revision 19775-1, refinements are evaluated in multiple implementations
  • Small and incremental improvements to the X3D Architecture are being shared as the ongoing update efforts continue.  
  • Select improvements under consideration include EnvironmentLight and Tangent nodes for ongoing glTF rendering alignment, FontLibrary, ImageTextureAtlas, and possible Volume rendering component additions.  Editorial clarifications when needed.
• Humanoid Animation (HAnim) Architecture 2.1, draft revision 19774-1 and 2, affects X3D 4.1
  • ​Current HAnim version 2.0 (matches X3D 4.0)
  • ​maintenance as multiple implementations continue to advance
  • potential new nodes:  Pose, Coveroid/Clothing
  • potential new parts: facial animation including FACS, internal organs
• Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) 1997, 
  • We are responsible for long-term standards maintenance
  • We have preserved all functionality with backwards compatibility in X3D Architecture and X3D ClassicVRML Encoding

Feedback is valued and important  

All inputs are always welcome. 

Questions and issues can be discussed on Web3D mailing lists, posted on Contact Us page, or submitted via Mantis issue tracker.

Have fun with X3D standards stability and versatility!