FILE FORMAT GUIDE
glTF File (.GLTF): JSON Assets & Companion Files
A .gltf file describes a 3D asset using JSON. Its geometry and textures may be separate files. Keep those companion resources with the description when moving an exported model.
Quick facts
- Extension
- .gltf
- Format
- glTF JSON Asset
- Category
- 3d
- MIME type
- model/gltf+json
- Standard / developer
- Khronos Group
- Open with
- Blender
What is GLTF?
glTF is designed for runtime delivery rather than preserving all authoring information. JSON describes scenes and references data. The binary GLB form uses different packaging; changing an extension does not convert between them.
How to open GLTF
Use an importer to inspect the model, not merely a JSON editor. The documented workflow here is Blender 4.5; inspect material conversion and referenced textures.
BlenderDesktop application
Keep the .gltf, .bin and exported textures together. Use File > Import > glTF 2.0 (.glb, .gltf), then select the .gltf. Enable the glTF 2.0 add-on in Preferences if necessary.
Common uses and compatibility
- Export a model with separate geometry and texture files
Things to check
- A Blender separate export can include .bin and texture files, not just the .gltf document.
- Importing does not reproduce every original authoring detail.
Technical details
- Signature
- Not reviewed
- Encoding
- UTF-8 JSON
- Container
- Not applicable
- Compression
- Not reviewed
Related formats
- Binary glTF
Binary glTF packages asset content in a chunked container rather than a separate JSON file.
Sources & review
Sources reviewed 2026-09-18.