2003-2004 Silicon Graphics, Inc.
glVertexPointer 3G
glVertexPointer define an array of vertex coordinates

## C Specification

void `glVertexPointer` GLint size GLenum type GLsizei stride const GLvoid * pointer

## Parameters

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 vertex coordinate in the array. Symbolic constants `GL_BYTE`, `GL_SHORT`, and `GL_FIXED`, are accepted. However, the initial value is `GL_FLOAT`.

  The common profile accepts the symbolic constant `GL_FLOAT` as well.

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 of an array of vertex coordinates to use when rendering. size specifies the number of coordinates per vertex and type the data type of the coordinates. 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.)

When a vertex array is specified, size, type, stride, and pointer are saved as client-side state.

If the vertex array is enabled, it is used when glDrawArrays, or glDrawElements is called. To enable and disable the vertex array, call glEnableClientState and glDisableClientState with the argument `GL_VERTEX_ARRAY`. The vertex array is initially disabled and isn't accessed when glDrawArrays or glDrawElements is called.

Use glDrawArrays to construct a sequence of primitives (all of the same type) from prespecified vertex and vertex attribute arrays. Use glDrawElements to construct a sequence of primitives by indexing vertices and vertex attributes.

## Notes

`glVertexPointer` is typically implemented on the client side.

## 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.

## See Also

glColorPointer, glDrawArrays, glDrawElements, glEnable, glNormalPointer, glTexCoordPointer

## Copyright

Copyright 2003-2004 Silicon Graphics, Inc. This document is licensed under the SGI Free Software B License. For details, see http://oss.sgi.com/projects/FreeB/.