Collada
Collada (COLLAborative Design Activity) is an open standard XML-based file format for exchanging 3D digital assets between graphics applications, such as 3D modeling tools, game engines, and animation software. It supports a wide range of 3D data including geometry, materials, textures, animations, and physics, enabling interoperability across different platforms and tools. Originally developed by Sony Computer Entertainment, it is now maintained by the Khronos Group as a royalty-free standard.
Developers should learn and use Collada when working in 3D graphics pipelines that require asset exchange between diverse software, such as in game development, virtual reality, or computer-aided design (CAD) workflows. It is particularly useful for projects involving multiple tools (e.g., Blender, Maya, Unity) to ensure consistent data transfer without proprietary lock-in. However, for modern real-time applications, newer formats like glTF are often preferred due to better performance and smaller file sizes.