ANGLE_instanced_arrays

The ANGLE_instanced_arrays extension is part of the WebGL API and allows to draw the same object, or groups of similar objects multiple times, if they share the same vertex data, primitive count and type.

WebGL extensions are available using the WebGLRenderingContext.getExtension() method. For more information, see also Using Extensions in the WebGL tutorial.

Availability: This extension is only available to WebGL1 contexts. In WebGL2, the functionality of this extension is available on the WebGL2 context by default and the constants and methods are available without the "ANGLE" suffix.

Despite the name "ANGLE", this extension works on any device if the hardware supports it and not just on Windows when using the ANGLE library. "ANGLE" just indicates that this extension has been written by the ANGLE library authors.

Constants

This extension exposes one new constant, which can be used in the gl.getVertexAttrib() method:

ext.VERTEX_ATTRIB_ARRAY_DIVISOR_ANGLE
Returns a GLint describing the frequency divisor used for instanced rendering when used in the gl.getVertexAttrib() as the pname parameter.

Methods

This extension exposes three new methods.

ext.drawArraysInstancedANGLE()

Behaves identically to gl.drawArrays() except that multiple instances of the range of elements are executed, and the instance advances for each iteration.

ext.drawElementsInstancedANGLE()

Behaves identically to gl.drawElements() except that multiple instances of the set of elements are executed and the instance advances between each set.

ext.vertexAttribDivisorANGLE()

Modifies the rate at which generic vertex attributes advance when rendering multiple instances of primitives with ext.drawArraysInstancedANGLE() and ext.drawElementsInstancedANGLE().

Examples

Enabling the extension:

var ext = gl.getExtension('ANGLE_instanced_arrays');

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ANGLE_instanced_arrays
The definition of 'ANGLE_instanced_arrays' in that specification.
Recommendation Initial definition.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobile
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung Internet
ANGLE_instanced_arraysChrome Full support 30
Alternate Name
Full support 30
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
Edge Full support 79
Alternate Name
Full support 79
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
No support 12 — 79
Firefox Full support 33IE Full support 11Opera Full support 17
Alternate Name
Full support 17
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support 4.4
Alternate Name
Full support 4.4
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
Chrome Android Full support 30
Alternate Name
Full support 30
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support 18
Alternate Name
Full support 18
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 2.0
Alternate Name
Full support 2.0
Alternate Name
Alternate Name Uses the non-standard name: ANGLEInstancedArrays
drawArraysInstancedANGLEChrome Full support 30Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 33IE Full support 11Opera Full support 17Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support 4.4Chrome Android Full support 30Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support 18Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 2.0
drawElementsInstancedANGLEChrome Full support 30Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 33IE Full support 11Opera Full support 17Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support 4.4Chrome Android Full support 30Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support 18Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 2.0
vertexAttribDivisorANGLEChrome Full support 30Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 33IE Full support 11Opera Full support 17Safari Full support 7WebView Android Full support 4.4Chrome Android Full support 30Firefox Android Full support YesOpera Android Full support 18Safari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support 2.0

Legend

Full support
Full support
Uses a non-standard name.
Uses a non-standard name.

See also