LOW  |  | |
| Name | Universal 3D File | STereoLithography |
| File extension | .u3d | .stl |
| Original software | ||
| Binary | ■ | ■ |
| ASCII | ■ | |
| Polygonal | ■ | ■ |
| NURBS | ||
| Solids | ||
| Smoothing groups | ■ | |
| Textures, materials | ■ | |
| Developer/Owner | 3D Industry Forum, Ecma International | |
| Description | ||
| Specification | Universal 3D File Format | The StL Format |
| Format features | Attempt to create a universal format for the exchange of 3D-data, including for publishing on the Internet. One of the successors of obsolete format WRL (VRML) | One of the most ubiquitous exchange formats polygonal geometry between CAD-systems. Can have both binary and ASCII-structure, which is why the same file can vary in size tenfold. See also PLY |
| Viewing software | GLC_Player (free), MeshLab (free) | GLC_Player (free), MeshLab (free) |
