EXT_texture_norm16 extension
Baseline 2026
Newly available
Since October 2026, this feature works across the latest devices and browser versions. This feature might not work in older devices or browsers.
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Note: This feature is available in Web Workers.
The EXT_texture_norm16 extension is part of the WebGL API and provides a set of new 16-bit signed normalized and unsigned normalized formats (fixed-point texture, renderbuffer and texture buffer).
When this extension is enabled:
- The
WebGLRenderingContext.texImage2D()andWebGLRenderingContext.texSubImage2D()methods accept new formats provided by this extension. - The 16-bit normalized fixed-point types
ext.R16_EXT,ext.RG16_EXTandext.RGBA16_EXTbecome available as color-renderable formats and renderbuffers and be created in these formats.
WebGL extensions are available using the WebGLRenderingContext.getExtension() method.
For more information, see Using WebGL extensions.
Note: This extension is only available to WebGL 2 contexts.
Constants
ext.R16_EXT-
Red 16-bit unsigned format. Color-renderable.
ext.RG16_EXT-
RG 16-bit unsigned format. Color-renderable.
ext.RGB16_EXT-
RGB 16-bit unsigned format.
ext.RGBA16_EXT-
RGBA 16-bit unsigned format. Color-renderable.
ext.R16_SNORM_EXT-
Red 16-bit signed normalized format.
ext.RG16_SNORM_EXT-
RG 16-bit signed normalized format.
ext.RGB16_SNORM_EXT-
RGB 16-bit signed normalized format.
ext.RGBA16_SNORM_EXT-
RGBA 16-bit signed normalized format.
Examples
Enabling the extension
let ext = gl.getExtension("EXT_texture_norm16");
Texture formats
The WebGLRenderingContext.texImage2D() method accepts new formats when EXT_texture_norm16 is enabled. Example calls:
// imageData = Uint16Array
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.R16_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RED, gl.UNSIGNED_SHORT, imageData);
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.RG16_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RG, gl.UNSIGNED_SHORT, imageData);
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.RGB16_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RGB, gl.UNSIGNED_SHORT, imageData);
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.RGBA16_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RGBA, gl.UNSIGNED_SHORT, imageData);
// imageData = Int16Array
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.R16_SNORM_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RED, gl.SHORT, imageData);
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.RG16_SNORM_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RG, gl.SHORT, imageData);
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.RGB16_SNORM_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RGB, gl.SHORT, imageData);
gl.texImage2D(gl.TEXTURE_2D, 0, ext.RGBA16_SNORM_EXT, 1, 1, 0, gl.RGBA, gl.SHORT, imageData);
Renderbuffer formats
The WebGLRenderingContext.renderbufferStorage() method accepts ext.R16_EXT,
ext.RG16_EXT and ext.RGBA16_EXT as internal formats to create renderbuffers in these formats. Example calls:
gl.renderbufferStorage(gl.RENDERBUFFER, ext.R16_EXT, 1, 1);
gl.renderbufferStorage(gl.RENDERBUFFER, ext.RG16_EXT, 1, 1);
gl.renderbufferStorage(gl.RENDERBUFFER, ext.RGBA16_EXT, 1, 1);
Specifications
| Specification |
|---|
| WebGL EXT_texture_norm16 Extension Specification |