What is a .wrl file?
Virtual Reality Modeling Language · 3D model · Web3D Consortium · 1995
A .wrl file is VRML, an early text format for 3D scenes on the web. It describes shapes, materials and simple interactivity, and was the ancestor of today's web 3D formats. Its successor is X3D.
What is a .wrl file used for?
VRML files start with the header #VRML and store a scene graph in readable text. It aimed to bring 3D to 1990s browsers; while dated, .wrl files still appear in older 3D and CAD exports.
Blender and MeshLab import VRML; for anything current, convert to glTF or X3D.
How to open a .wrl file
The .wrl format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .wrl file.
Windows
- Blender
- MeshLab
- any text editor
macOS
- Blender
- MeshLab
Linux
- Blender
- MeshLab
- view3dscene
How to convert a .wrl file
You can convert a .wrl file to x3d, gltf, obj using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.wrl file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .wrl file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for VRML. For a full breakdown, see the VRML file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 23 56 52 4D 4C | 0 | '#VRML' |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .wrl file?
A .wrl file is VRML, an early text format for 3D scenes on the web. It describes shapes, materials and simple interactivity, and was the ancestor of today's web 3D formats. Its successor is X3D.
How do I open a .wrl file?
Import it into Blender or MeshLab. Being text, it also opens in an editor. Convert to glTF for modern viewers.
What is VRML used for now?
Mostly legacy: older 3D models, some CAD exports and archived web scenes. New work uses glTF or its direct successor, X3D.
What replaced VRML?
X3D, the XML-based successor, and for the web and real-time use, glTF.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: