The WRL file extension is used to refer to the 3D object shape file component of VRML – Virtual Reality Modeling Language – files. VRML data files are used to send 3D image data in a more condensed and efficient version than the actual image. WRL files can be accessed and edited with the appropriate software.
VRML is a standard file format for representing 3-dimensional (3D) interactive vector graphics, designed particularly with the World Wide Web in mind. VRML is a text file format where, e.g., vertices and edges for a 3D polygon can be specified along with the surface color, image-mapped textures, shininess, transparency, and so on. URLs can be associated with graphical components so that a web browser might fetch a web-page or a new VRML file from the Internet when the user clicks on the specific graphical component. Animations, sounds, lighting, and other aspects of the virtual world can interact with the user or may be triggered by external events such as timers. A special Script Node allows the addition of program code (e.g., written in Java or JavaScript (ECMAScript)) to a VRML file. VRML files are commonly called "worlds" and have the .wrl extension (for example island.wrl). Although VRML worlds use a text format they may often be compressed using gzip so that they transfer over the internet more quickly. Many 3D modeling programs can save objects and scenes in VRML format.
Live3D plug-in for Netscape. 3D live picture; see WRZ.