STL
STL (Stereolithography) is a file format used for 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD) that represents the surface geometry of a 3D object as a collection of triangular facets. It stores data in either ASCII or binary format, defining the vertices and normals of triangles without color, texture, or material information. This format is widely adopted in additive manufacturing for its simplicity and compatibility with most 3D printers and slicing software.
Developers should learn STL when working in 3D printing, CAD software development, or applications involving 3D model processing, as it is the de facto standard for transferring models to 3D printers. It is essential for tasks like generating G-code for printing, performing mesh analysis, or converting between 3D formats in tools such as Blender or CAD programs. Use cases include prototyping, manufacturing, and educational projects where precise geometric representation is needed.