Open GL and Direct3D Comparison

Direct 3D is an API that provides functions to render three dimensional graphics, and uses hardware acceleration, it was designed by Microsoft Corporation and is most commonly used in for Video Games.

Open GL is an open source API that provides functions for rendering 2D and 3D graphics and is available on most systems, it is most commonly used for professional 3D applications.

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Open Gl has always seen more use in the professional graphics market than Direct3D, where Direct3D is mostly used for computer games. Originally professional graphics cards only supported Open GL but now a graphics card that runs Windows will support Direct3D. Direct3D was designed with game creation in mind whereas OpenGL is a more general purpose 3D API so it provides features not aimed at any particular user.