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.

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

See also

• WebGLRenderingContext.createBuffer()
• WebGLRenderingContext.deleteBuffer()
• WebGLRenderingContext.isBuffer()
• Other buffers: WebGLFramebuffer, WebGLRenderbuffer