What are vertex shaders in OpenGL?

What are vertex shaders in OpenGL?

Vertex shaders are programmable shaders in OpenGL that process vertex data. They transform vertex positions and can also handle lighting and texture coordinates.

How do I write a simple vertex shader?

To write a simple vertex shader, you need to define the shader in GLSL. Here's a basic example:

#version 330 core
layout(location = 0) in vec3 position;

void main() {
    gl_Position = vec4(position, 1.0);
}

What is the purpose of the gl_Position variable?

The gl_Position variable is used to specify the final position of the vertex in clip space. It's crucial for rendering the vertex correctly on the screen.

Can vertex shaders affect the color of the vertices?

Yes, vertex shaders can output color data to be interpolated across the primitive. You can define a color output variable and set it in the shader.