WebGPU vs WebGL

Developers should learn WebGPU when building web applications that require advanced graphics, real-time rendering, or GPU-accelerated computations, such as games, scientific visualizations, or AI inference in the browser meets developers should learn webgl when building web applications that require high-performance graphics, such as 3d games, scientific visualizations, architectural walkthroughs, or interactive data dashboards. Here's our take.

WebGPU

Nice Pick

Developers should learn WebGPU when building web applications that require advanced graphics, real-time rendering, or GPU-accelerated computations, such as games, scientific visualizations, or AI inference in the browser

Pros

• It is particularly useful for projects needing better performance and control than WebGL offers, as it reduces driver overhead and supports modern GPU architectures like Vulkan, Metal, and DirectX 12
• Related to: webgl, javascript

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

WebGL

Developers should learn WebGL when building web applications that require high-performance graphics, such as 3D games, scientific visualizations, architectural walkthroughs, or interactive data dashboards

Pros

• It is essential for projects where leveraging GPU acceleration is critical for rendering complex scenes or handling large datasets in real-time, providing a native-like experience in browsers across devices
• Related to: javascript, html5-canvas

Cons

• Specific tradeoffs depend on your use case

The Verdict

These tools serve different purposes. WebGPU is a platform while WebGL is a library. We picked WebGPU based on overall popularity, but your choice depends on what you're building.

The Bottom Line

WebGPU wins

Based on overall popularity. WebGPU is more widely used, but WebGL excels in its own space.