Metal graphics API

E49844

Metal graphics API is Apple’s low-level, high-performance framework for 3D graphics and GPU-accelerated computing on its devices.


Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf GPU computing framework
graphics API
low-level graphics framework
announcedAt Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2014
announcementYear 2014
APIStyle low-level
component Metal Performance Shaders
MetalFX
MetalKit
designedFor 3D graphics
GPU-accelerated computing
developedBy Apple Inc.
developer Apple Inc.
integratesWith Core Animation
Core Image
SceneKit
SpriteKit
introducedInVersionOfiOS iOS 8
operatingSystem iOS
macOS
tvOS
watchOS
performanceCharacteristic high-performance
platform Apple TV
Apple Watch
Apple platforms
Mac
iPad
iPhone
primaryUseCase game development
high-performance computing
real-time 3D rendering
replaces OpenCL on Apple platforms
OpenGL on Apple platforms
shaderLanguage Metal Shading Language
similarTo Direct3D 12
Mantle
Vulkan
supports GPU compute shaders
Metal Shading Language
graphics rendering
tessellation
tile-based deferred rendering
supportsFeature argument buffers
indirect command buffers
ray tracing
variable rate shading
usedBy AAA games on Apple platforms
professional graphics applications on macOS

Referenced by (5)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Apple M-series
Apple M3
supports
Apple Worldwide Developers Conference 2014 ("Metal (graphics API)")
announced
Apple Neural Engine ("Metal Performance Shaders")
programmedVia
Bevy ("Metal (via wgpu)")
supportsRenderingAPI

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