GLB vs FBX vs OBJ vs STL: which 3D file format do you need?
[Author name]Updated [date] · 8 min read
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Every 3D file stores geometry, but formats differ in what else they carry — materials, textures, rigs, animation and scene data. Picking the right one up front saves conversion headaches later.
Quick answer
| Use | Best format |
|---|---|
| Web viewers & Android AR | GLB |
| iPhone / iPad AR | USDZ |
| Unity & Unreal (rigged, animated) | FBX |
| Simple static mesh exchange | OBJ |
| 3D printing | STL / 3MF |
GLB — the web’s 3D JPEG
GLB is the binary form of glTF. It packs mesh, PBR materials, textures and animation into one compact file, which is why browsers and AR viewers load it quickly.
<model-viewer src="scooter.glb" ar camera-controls auto-rotate></model-viewer>
[Article continues — FBX, OBJ, STL, USDZ, BLEND sections, then FAQ with FAQPage schema.]