X3D Standards Progress

Who we are:  Web3D Consortium is a non-profit Standards Development Organization (SDO) that produces Open Standards for Real-Time 3D Communication.

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 simple:

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

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

Assets for Continuing Progress

  • 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.

Draft specification editing to match X3D 4.0 Architecture

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

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 specifications are next for editor efforts.

Feedback is 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!  Smile