Function Name Parameter List Example Usage Detailed Explanation

Marks the current

window as needing to

be redrawn. Causes

the registered display

glutPostRedisplay None glutPostRedisplay();
callback to be called

soon. Used in

animation loops or

after scene updates.

Sets up a 2D

orthographic

projection matrix
(GLdouble left, GLdouble
gluOrtho2D(0.0, 300.0, defining a clipping
gluOrtho2D right, GLdouble bottom,
0.0, 300.0); volume where z is
GLdouble top)
between -1 and 1.

Useful for 2D

rendering.

Replaces the current

matrix with the

identity matrix,

glLoadIdentity None glLoadIdentity(); resetting any

transformations. Used

before applying new

transforms.
 Defines a perspective

projection matrix with

(GLdouble left, GLdouble
a viewing frustum
right, GLdouble bottom, glFrustum(-1.0, 1.0,
glFrustum (truncated pyramid).
GLdouble top, GLdouble -1.0, 1.0, 2.0, 10.0);
Used for 3D
nearVal, GLdouble farVal)
perspective

projections.

Sets a perspective

(GLdouble fovy, GLdouble gluPerspective(45.0, projection matrix with

gluPerspective aspect, GLdouble zNear, (GLfloat)w/(GLfloat)h, field of view, aspect

GLdouble zFar) 1.0, 20.0); ratio, and near/far

clipping planes.

Defines the viewport

rectangle in window

(GLint x, GLint y, GLsizei coordinates where

glViewport glViewport(0, 0, w, h);
width, GLsizei height) rendering occurs.

Usually set on window

resize.

Sets the current

(GLenum mode) (e.g.,
glMatrixMode(GL_PROJECTIO matrix stack to
glMatrixMode GL_PROJECTION,
N); operate on (projection
GL_MODELVIEW)
or modelview).
 (GLfloat red, GLfloat Sets the color used to
glClearColor(1.0, 1.0,
glClearColor green, GLfloat blue, clear the color buffer
1.0, 1.0);
GLfloat alpha) (background color).

(GLbitfield mask) (e.g.,

`glClear(GL_COLOR_BUFFER_ GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_B
glClear GL_COLOR_BUFFER_BIT,
BIT IT);`
GL_DEPTH_BUFFER_BIT)

Enables server-side

(GLenum cap) (e.g., GL capabilities, such

glEnable glEnable(GL_DEPTH_TEST);
GL_DEPTH_TEST) as depth testing for

correct 3D rendering.

Begins specifying
(GLenum mode) (e.g.,
vertices for a
glBegin GL_TRIANGLES, GL_QUADS, glBegin(GL_QUADS);
primitive. Must be
GL_POLYGON)
paired with glEnd().

Ends vertex

glEnd None glEnd(); specification started

by glBegin().

Specifies a vertex

glVertex2f / (GLfloat x, GLfloat y) or coordinate in 2D or

glVertex3f / (GLfloat x, GLfloat y, glVertex3fv(vertices[a]); 3D. Variants accept

glVertex3fv GLfloat z) or pointer to array floats, doubles, or

pointers to arrays.
 Sets the current
(GLfloat red, GLfloat drawing color.
glColor3f /
green, GLfloat blue) or glColor3fv(colors[a]); Variants accept floats
glColor3fv
pointer to array or pointers to float

arrays.

Applies a translation

(GLfloat x, GLfloat y, glTranslatef(0.0, 0.0, transformation to the

glTranslatef
GLfloat z) -5.0); current matrix, moving

objects in 3D space.

Applies a rotation

transformation by
(GLfloat angle, GLfloat x, glRotatef(theta[axis],
glRotatef angle degrees about
GLfloat y, GLfloat z) 1.0, 0.0, 0.0);
the axis (x,y,z) to

the current matrix.

Registers the display

callback function

glutDisplayFunc void (*func)(void) glutDisplayFunc(display); called when the

window needs

redrawing.

Registers the reshape

void (*func)(int width, callback function

glutReshapeFunc glutReshapeFunc(reshape);
int height) called on window

resize events.
 Registers the idle

callback function

called when the event

glutIdleFunc void (*func)(void) glutIdleFunc(spinCube);
loop is idle; often

used for animation

updates.

Registers the
void (*func)(unsigned char glutKeyboardFunc(keyboard
glutKeyboardFunc keyboard input
key, int x, int y) );
callback function.

Registers the mouse

void (*func)(int button,
glutMouseFunc glutMouseFunc(mouse); button callback
int state, int x, int y)
function.

Swaps the front and

back buffers in

double-buffered mode
glutSwapBuffers None glutSwapBuffers();
to display the

rendered frame

smoothly.