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() and WebGLRenderingContext.texSubImage2D() methods accept new formats provided by this extension.
• The 16-bit normalized fixed-point types ext.R16_EXT, ext.RG16_EXT and ext.RGBA16_EXT become 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 also Using Extensions in the WebGL tutorial.

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.

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);

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);

• WebGLRenderingContext.getExtension()
• WebGLRenderingContext.texImage2D()
• WebGLRenderingContext.renderbufferStorage()