What it stores
- A JSON scene: nodes, meshes, materials and animations
- References to .bin binary buffers
- References to texture images
- Extensions such as Draco or KTX2
3D FILE FORMAT
glTF: the JSON scene, unpacked
glTF is the open 3D standard: a JSON scene that references binary buffers and textures. GLB is the same scene packed into one file. Use glTF while authoring, GLB to ship.
At a glance
What it does not store
- Single-file portability: assets travel separately
- Print metadata
- Any guarantee that companion files are present
When to use it
- Debugging a web 3D pipeline
- Editing materials or scene structure by hand
- Assets served from a CDN as separate files
Limits to know
- A missing .bin or texture breaks the model
- Browsers block external files without CORS
- More requests than a single GLB
Convert to and from
No direct converter for this format yet. Pack the files into a GLB to convert them, or open the model in the viewer.
Questions about the format
glTF or GLB?+
glTF is the JSON scene plus separate files; GLB packs everything into one binary. Ship GLB, edit glTF.
Can I convert glTF to GLB?+
Pack the .gltf, its .bin and textures into a GLB with a tool such as gltf-transform; this converter accepts GLB directly.
Can I view a glTF online?+
Yes, in the 3D viewer, but select the .gltf together with its .bin and texture files.