Metal (API)
Metal is a low-level, low-overhead hardware-accelerated 3D graphic and compute shader API created by Apple, debuting in iOS 8. Metal combines functions similar to OpenGL and OpenCL in one API. It is intended to improve performance by offering low-level access to the GPU hardware for apps on iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS. It can be compared to low-level APIs on other platforms such as Vulkan and DirectX 12.
Apple used the mobile multiplayer online battle arena game Vainglory to demonstrate Metal's graphics capabilities at the iPhone 6's September 2014 announcement event. | |
| Developer(s) | Apple Inc. |
|---|---|
| Initial release | June 2014 |
| Stable release | 24
/ October 2022 |
| Written in | Shading language: C++14, Runtime/API: Objective-C |
| Operating system | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS |
| Type | 3D graphics and compute API |
| License | Proprietary |
| Website | developer |
Metal is an object-oriented API that can be invoked using the Swift, Objective-C or C++17 programming languages. Full-blown GPU execution is controlled via the Metal Shading Language. According to Apple promotional materials: "MSL [Metal Shading Language] 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."