glVertexPointer

define an array of vertex data

Signature

glVertexPointer( GLint ( size ) , GLenum ( type ) , GLsizei ( stride ) , const void * ( pointer ) )-> void
glVertexPointer( size , type , stride , pointer )
glVertexPointerf( pointer )
glVertexPointeri( pointer )
glVertexPointers( pointer )

Parameters

VariablesDescription
size
Specifies the number of coordinates per vertex. Must be 2, 3, or 4. The initial value is 4.
type
Specifies the data type of each coordinate in the array. Symbolic constants GL_SHORT , GL_INT , GL_FLOAT , or GL_DOUBLE are accepted. The initial value is GL_FLOAT .
stride
Specifies the byte offset between consecutive vertices. If stride is 0, the vertices are understood to be tightly packed in the array. The initial value is 0.
pointer
Specifies a pointer to the first coordinate of the first vertex in the array. The initial value is 0.

Description

glVertexPointer specifies the location and data format of an array of vertex coordinates to use when rendering. size specifies the number of coordinates per vertex, and must be 2, 3, or 4. type specifies the data type of each coordinate, and stride specifies the byte stride from one vertex to the next, allowing vertices and attributes to be packed into a single array or stored in separate arrays. (Single-array storage may be more efficient on some implementations; see glInterleavedArrays .)
If a non-zero named buffer object is bound to the GL_ARRAY_BUFFER target (see glBindBuffer ) while a vertex array is specified, pointer is treated as a byte offset into the buffer object's data store. Also, the buffer object binding ( GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING ) is saved as vertex array client-side state ( GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING ).
When a vertex array is specified, size , type , stride , and pointer are saved as client-side state, in addition to the current vertex array buffer object binding.
To enable and disable the vertex array, call glEnableClientState and glDisableClientState with the argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY . If enabled, the vertex array is used when glArrayElement , glDrawArrays , glMultiDrawArrays , glDrawElements , glMultiDrawElements , or glDrawRangeElements is called.

Notes

glVertexPointer is available only if the GL version is 1.1 or greater.
The vertex array is initially disabled and isn't accessed when glArrayElement , glDrawElements , glDrawRangeElements , glDrawArrays , glMultiDrawArrays , or glMultiDrawElements is called.
Execution of glVertexPointer is not allowed between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd , but an error may or may not be generated. If no error is generated, the operation is undefined.
glVertexPointer is typically implemented on the client side.
Vertex array parameters are client-side state and are therefore not saved or restored by glPushAttrib and glPopAttrib . Use glPushClientAttrib and glPopClientAttrib instead.

Errors

GL_INVALID_VALUE is generated if size is not 2, 3, or 4.
GL_INVALID_ENUM is generated if type is not an accepted value.
GL_INVALID_VALUE is generated if stride is negative.

Associated Gets

glIsEnabled with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY
glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_SIZE
glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_TYPE
glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_STRIDE
glGet with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING
glGet with argument GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING
glGetPointerv with argument GL_VERTEX_ARRAY_POINTER

See Also

glArrayElement , glBindBuffer , glColorPointer , glDisableClientState , glDrawArrays , glDrawElements , glDrawRangeElements , glEdgeFlagPointer , glEnableClientState , glFogCoordPointer , glIndexPointer , glInterleavedArrays , glMultiDrawArrays , glMultiDrawElements , glNormalPointer , glPopClientAttrib , glPushClientAttrib , glSecondaryColorPointer , glTexCoordPointer , glVertex , glVertexAttribPointer

Sample Code References

The following code samples have been found which appear to reference the functions described here. Take care that the code may be old, broken or not even use PyOpenGL.

glVertexPointer
OpenGLContext OpenGLContext/drawcube.py Lines: 34
OpenGLContext OpenGLContext/scenegraph/box.py Lines: 43
OpenGLContext OpenGLContext/scenegraph/indexedpolygons.py Lines: 62, 125
OpenGLContext OpenGLContext/scenegraph/quadrics.py Lines: 51
OpenGLContext tests/shader_3.py Lines: 169
OpenGLContext tests/shader_2.py Lines: 168
OpenGLContext tests/shader_2_c_void_p.py Lines: 61
OpenGLContext tests/gldrawarrays_string.py Lines: 15
OpenGLContext tests/shader_sphere.py Lines: 103
OpenGLContext tests/gldrawelements_string.py Lines: 22
OpenGLContext tests/shader_4_subset.py Lines: 70
OpenGL-Demo PyOpenGL-Demo/NeHe/lesson45.py Lines: 417, 434
OpenGL-Demo PyOpenGL-Demo/proesch/colorCube/colorCube.py Lines: 53, 60
{LGPL} pygl2d pygl2d/draw.py Lines: 89
{GPL3} OpenGL-Programmable 05-shader.py Lines: 179
{GPL3} OpenGL-Programmable 03-array.py Lines: 94
{GPL3} OpenGL-Programmable 06-perpixel.py Lines: 187
{GPL3} OpenGL-Programmable 04-vbo.py Lines: 113

Copyright Notices

This documentation is based on documentation licensed under the SGI Free Software License B.