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# docs.GL

OpenGL 3
OpenGL 2

# glNewList

## Name

glNewList — create or replace a display list

## C Specification

`void glNewList(` | GLuint | list,
| GLenum | mode`)`;

## Parameters

`list`

  Specifies the display-list name.

`mode`

  Specifies the compilation mode, which can be `GL_COMPILE` or `GL_COMPILE_AND_EXECUTE`.

## C Specification

`void glEndList(` |  | void`)`;

## Description

Display lists are groups of GL commands that have been stored for subsequent execution. Display lists are created with `glNewList`. All subsequent commands are placed in the display list, in the order issued, until glEndList is called.

`glNewList` has two arguments. The first argument, `list`, is a positive integer that becomes the unique name for the display list. Names can be created and reserved with glGenLists and tested for uniqueness with glIsList. The second argument, `mode`, is a symbolic constant that can assume one of two values:

`GL_COMPILE`

  Commands are merely compiled.

`GL_COMPILE_AND_EXECUTE`

  Commands are executed as they are compiled into the display list.

Certain commands are not compiled into the display list but are executed immediately, regardless of the display-list mode. These commands are glAreTexturesResident, glColorPointer, glDeleteLists, glDeleteTextures, glDisableClientState, glEdgeFlagPointer, glEnableClientState, glFeedbackBuffer, glFinish, glFlush, glGenLists, glGenTextures, glIndexPointer, glInterleavedArrays, glIsEnabled, glIsList, glIsTexture, glNormalPointer, glPopClientAttrib, glPixelStore, glPushClientAttrib, glReadPixels, glRenderMode, glSelectBuffer, glTexCoordPointer, glVertexPointer, and all of the glGet commands.

Similarly, glTexImage1D, glTexImage2D, and glTexImage3D are executed immediately and not compiled into the display list when their first argument is `GL_PROXY_TEXTURE_1D`, `GL_PROXY_TEXTURE_1D`, or `GL_PROXY_TEXTURE_3D`, respectively.

When the `ARB_imaging` extension is supported, glHistogram executes immediately when its argument is `GL_PROXY_HISTOGRAM`. Similarly, glColorTable executes immediately when its first argument is `GL_PROXY_COLOR_TABLE`, `GL_PROXY_POST_CONVOLUTION_COLOR_TABLE`, or `GL_PROXY_POST_COLOR_MATRIX_COLOR_TABLE`.

For OpenGL versions 1.3 and greater, or when the `ARB_multitexture` extension is supported, glClientActiveTexture is not compiled into display lists, but executed immediately.

When glEndList is encountered, the display-list definition is completed by associating the list with the unique name `list` (specified in the `glNewList` command). If a display list with name `list` already exists, it is replaced only when glEndList is called.

## Notes

glCallList and glCallLists can be entered into display lists. Commands in the display list or lists executed by glCallList or glCallLists are not included in the display list being created, even if the list creation mode is `GL_COMPILE_AND_EXECUTE`.

A display list is just a group of commands and arguments, so errors generated by commands in a display list must be generated when the list is executed. If the list is created in `GL_COMPILE` mode, errors are not generated until the list is executed.

## Errors

`GL_INVALID_VALUE` is generated if `list` is 0.

`GL_INVALID_ENUM` is generated if `mode` is not an accepted value.

`GL_INVALID_OPERATION` is generated if glEndList is called without a preceding `glNewList`, or if `glNewList` is called while a display list is being defined.

`GL_INVALID_OPERATION` is generated if `glNewList` or glEndList is executed between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd.

`GL_OUT_OF_MEMORY` is generated if there is insufficient memory to compile the display list. If the GL version is 1.1 or greater, no change is made to the previous contents of the display list, if any, and no other change is made to the GL state. (It is as if no attempt had been made to create the new display list.)

## Associated Gets

glIsList

glGet with argument `GL_LIST_INDEX`

glGet with argument `GL_LIST_MODE`

## Tutorials

## See Also

glCallList, glCallLists, glDeleteLists, glGenLists

## Copyright

Copyright © 1991-2006 Silicon Graphics, Inc. This document is licensed under the SGI Free Software B License. For details, see https://web.archive.org/web/20171022161616/http://oss.sgi.com/projects/FreeB/.

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