WebGLRenderingContext.bindBuffer()

The WebGLRenderingContext.bindBuffer() method of the WebGL API binds a given WebGLBuffer to a target.

Syntax

void gl.bindBuffer(target, buffer);

Parameters

target
A GLenum specifying the binding point (target). Possible values:
  • gl.ARRAY_BUFFER: Buffer containing vertex attributes, such as vertex coordinates, texture coordinate data, or vertex color data.
  • gl.ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER: Buffer used for element indices.
  • When using a WebGL 2 context, the following values are available additionally:
    • gl.COPY_READ_BUFFER: Buffer for copying from one buffer object to another.
    • gl.COPY_WRITE_BUFFER: Buffer for copying from one buffer object to another.
    • gl.TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_BUFFER: Buffer for transform feedback operations.
    • gl.UNIFORM_BUFFER: Buffer used for storing uniform blocks.
    • gl.PIXEL_PACK_BUFFER: Buffer used for pixel transfer operations.
    • gl.PIXEL_UNPACK_BUFFER: Buffer used for pixel transfer operations.
buffer
A WebGLBuffer to bind.

Return value

None.

Exceptions

Only one target can be bound to a given WebGLBuffer. An attempt to bind the buffer to another target will throw an INVALID_OPERATION error and the current buffer binding will remain the same.

A WebGLBuffer which has been marked for deletion with deleteBuffer cannot be (re-)bound. An attempt to do so will generate an INVALID_OPERATION error, and the current binding will remain untouched.

Examples

Binding a buffer to a target

var canvas = document.getElementById('canvas');
var gl = canvas.getContext('webgl');
var buffer = gl.createBuffer();

gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, buffer);

Getting current bindings

To check the current buffer bindings, query the ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING and ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING constants.

gl.getParameter(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING);
gl.getParameter(gl.ELEMENT_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING);

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
WebGL 1.0
The definition of 'bindBuffer' in that specification.		 Recommendation Initial definition for WebGL.
OpenGL ES 2.0
The definition of 'glBindBuffer' in that specification.		 Standard Man page of the (similar) OpenGL ES 2 API.
WebGL 2.0
The definition of 'bindBuffer' in that specification.		 Editor's Draft

Updated definition for WebGL 2.

Adds new target buffers:
gl.COPY_READ_BUFFER,
gl.COPY_WRITE_BUFFER,
gl.TRANSFORM_FEEDBACK_BUFFER,
gl.UNIFORM_BUFFER,
gl.PIXEL_PACK_BUFFER,
gl.PIXEL_UNPACK_BUFFER

OpenGL ES 3.0
The definition of 'glBindBuffer' in that specification.		 Standard Man page of the (similar) OpenGL ES 3 API.

Browser compatibility

BCD tables only load in the browser

See also