OpenGL - technical definition

(OPEN Graphics Language) A 3D graphics language developed by SGI, which has become a de facto standard supported in Unix, Windows and Macintosh computers. OpenGL can be implemented as an extension to an operating system or to a windowing system such as X Window. All high-end 3D display adapters include OpenGL drivers. OpenGL and Direct3D (Microsoft's DirectX) are the major 3D graphics languages in use today. See OPC and Cg. See also OpenAL.