OpenGL (Open Graphics Library) is a cross-platform API (Application Programming Interface) that allows developers to create 2D and 3D graphics applications. It provides a set of functions for rendering 2D and 3D graphics and is widely used in the development of video games, scientific visualization, virtual reality, and other graphical applications.
OpenGL was developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) in the early 1990s and is now maintained by the Khronos Group, a non-profit consortium that develops and promotes open standards in graphics and parallel computing. OpenGL is supported on a wide range of platforms, including Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, and many mobile platforms.
OpenGL works by sending commands to the graphics hardware through the driver, which then renders the graphics on the screen. The API provides functions for creating and manipulating geometry, textures, lighting, and shading, among other things. Developers can use OpenGL in conjunction with other APIs, such as OpenCL or CUDA, to create complex and high-performance graphics applications.