GLBEGIN()GLBEGIN()NAME
glBegin, glEnd - delimit the vertices of a primitive or a group of like
primitives
C SPECIFICATION
void glBegin( GLenum mode )
PARAMETERS
mode Specifies the primitive or primitives that will be created from
vertices presented between glBegin and the subsequent glEnd. Ten
symbolic constants are accepted: GL_POINTS, GL_LINES,
GL_LINE_STRIP, GL_LINE_LOOP, GL_TRIANGLES, GL_TRIANGLE_STRIP,
GL_TRIANGLE_FAN, GL_QUADS, GL_QUAD_STRIP, and GL_POLYGON.
C SPECIFICATION
void glEnd( void )
DESCRIPTION
glBegin and glEnd delimit the vertices that define a primitive or a
group of like primitives. glBegin accepts a single argument that spec‐
ifies in which of ten ways the vertices are interpreted. Taking n as
an integer count starting at one, and N as the total number of vertices
specified, the interpretations are as follows:
GL_POINTS Treats each vertex as a single point. Vertex n
defines point n. N points are drawn.
GL_LINES Treats each pair of vertices as an independent
line segment. Vertices 2n-1 and 2n define line n.
N/2 lines are drawn.
GL_LINE_STRIP Draws a connected group of line segments from the
first vertex to the last. Vertices n and n+1
define line n. N-1 lines are drawn.
GL_LINE_LOOP Draws a connected group of line segments from the
first vertex to the last, then back to the first.
Vertices n and n+1 define line n. The last line,
however, is defined by vertices N and 1. N lines
are drawn.
GL_TRIANGLES Treats each triplet of vertices as an independent
triangle. Vertices 3n-2, 3n-1, and 3n define tri‐
angle n. N/3 triangles are drawn.
GL_TRIANGLE_STRIP Draws a connected group of triangles. One trian‐
gle is defined for each vertex presented after the
first two vertices. For odd n, vertices n, n+1,
and n+2 define triangle n. For even n, vertices
n+1, n, and n+2 define triangle n. N-2 triangles
are drawn.
GL_TRIANGLE_FAN Draws a connected group of triangles. One trian‐
gle is defined for each vertex presented after the
first two vertices. Vertices 1, n+1, and n+2
define triangle n. N-2 triangles are drawn.
GL_QUADS Treats each group of four vertices as an indepen‐
dent quadrilateral. Vertices 4n-3, 4n-2, 4n-1,
and 4n define quadrilateral n. N/4 quadrilaterals
are drawn.
GL_QUAD_STRIP Draws a connected group of quadrilaterals. One
quadrilateral is defined for each pair of vertices
presented after the first pair. Vertices 2n-1,
2n, 2n+2, and 2n+1 define quadrilateral n. N/2-1
quadrilaterals are drawn. Note that the order in
which vertices are used to construct a quadrilat‐
eral from strip data is different from that used
with independent data.
GL_POLYGON Draws a single, convex polygon. Vertices 1
through N define this polygon.
Only a subset of GL commands can be used between glBegin and glEnd.
The commands are glVertex, glColor, glIndex, glNormal, glTexCoord, glE‐
valCoord, glEvalPoint, glArrayElement, glMaterial, and glEdgeFlag.
Also, it is acceptable to use glCallList or glCallLists to execute dis‐
play lists that include only the preceding commands. If any other GL
command is executed between glBegin and glEnd, the error flag is set
and the command is ignored.
Regardless of the value chosen for mode, there is no limit to the num‐
ber of vertices that can be defined between glBegin and glEnd. Lines,
triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons that are incompletely specified
are not drawn. Incomplete specification results when either too few
vertices are provided to specify even a single primitive or when an
incorrect multiple of vertices is specified. The incomplete primitive
is ignored; the rest are drawn.
The minimum specification of vertices for each primitive is as follows:
1 for a point, 2 for a line, 3 for a triangle, 4 for a quadrilateral,
and 3 for a polygon. Modes that require a certain multiple of vertices
are GL_LINES (2), GL_TRIANGLES (3), GL_QUADS (4), and GL_QUAD_STRIP
(2).
ERRORS
GL_INVALID_ENUM is generated if mode is set to an unaccepted value.
GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if glBegin is executed between a
glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd.
GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if glEnd is executed without being
preceded by a glBegin.
GL_INVALID_OPERATION is generated if a command other than glVertex,
glColor, glIndex, glNormal, glTexCoord, glEvalCoord, glEvalPoint, glAr‐
rayElement, glMaterial, glEdgeFlag, glCallList, or glCallLists is exe‐
cuted between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution
glEnd.
Execution of glEnableClientState, glDisableClientState, glEdgeFlag‐
Pointer, glTexCoordPointer, glColorPointer, glIndexPointer, glNormal‐
Pointer,
glVertexPointer, glInterleavedArrays, or glPixelStore is not allowed
after a call to glBegin and before the corresponding call to glEnd, but
an error may or may not be generated.
SEE ALSO
glArrayElement, glCallList, glCallLists, glColor, glEdgeFlag, glEvalCo‐
ord,
glEvalPoint, glIndex, glMaterial, glNormal, glTexCoord, glVertex
GLBEGIN()
