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Reference.org
Metal (API)
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<p>Metal is a low-level, low-overhead <a href="/facts/Hardware_acceleration/ej5sM7hB">hardware-accelerated</a> <a href="/facts/3D_graphic/zlWW6eaF">3D graphic</a> and <a href="/facts/Compute_shader/BxyI4vSf">compute shader</a> <a href="/facts/API/GMlN4vUr">API</a> created by <a href="/facts/Apple_Inc./oTJYta3k">Apple</a>, debuting in <a href="/facts/IOS_8/HHWhkr0P">iOS 8</a>. Metal combines functions similar to <a href="/facts/OpenGL/xQoMWePr">OpenGL</a> and <a href="/facts/OpenCL/ns8y6np7">OpenCL</a> in one API. It is intended to improve performance by offering low-level access to the GPU hardware for apps on <a href="/facts/IOS/mK5cggH5">iOS</a>, <a href="/facts/IPadOS/fClrmH7D">iPadOS</a>, <a href="/facts/MacOS/Y93vVpTm">macOS</a>, and <a href="/facts/TvOS/jDMqvvfI">tvOS</a>. It can be compared to low-level APIs on other <a href="/facts/Computing_platform/DmKwp5Bk">platforms</a> such as <a href="/facts/Vulkan_(API)/e188Vdpc">Vulkan</a> and <a href="/facts/DirectX_12/jyy75wVN">DirectX 12</a>. </p><p>Metal is an <a href="/facts/Object-oriented_programming/TxNMEcao">object-oriented</a> API that can be invoked using the <a href="/facts/Swift_(programming_language)/A7qHQC32">Swift</a>, <a href="/facts/Objective-C/5mM557BW">Objective-C</a> or <a href="/facts/C%2B%2B17/B3gKNeER">C++17</a> <a href="/facts/Programming_language/cWTYbgWa">programming languages</a>. Full-blown GPU execution is controlled via the Metal Shading Language. According to Apple promotional materials: "MSL <i>[Metal Shading Language]</i> is a single, unified language that allows tighter integration between the graphics and compute programs. Since MSL is C++-based, you will find it familiar and easy to use." </p>