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# docs.GL

OpenGL 3
OpenGL 2

# glRotate

## Name

glRotate — multiply the current matrix by a rotation matrix

## C Specification

`void glRotated(` | GLdouble | angle,
| GLdouble | x,
| GLdouble | y,
| GLdouble | z`)`;

`void glRotatef(` | GLfloat | angle,
| GLfloat | x,
| GLfloat | y,
| GLfloat | z`)`;

## Parameters

`angle`

  Specifies the angle of rotation, in degrees.

`x`, `y`, `z`

  Specify the x, y, and z coordinates of a vector, respectively.

## Description

`glRotate` produces a rotation of `angle` degrees around the vector x y z . The current matrix (see glMatrixMode) is multiplied by a rotation matrix with the product replacing the current matrix, as if glMultMatrix were called with the following matrix as its argument:

x 2 ⁡ 1 - c + c x ⁢ y ⁡ 1 - c - z ⁢ s x ⁢ z ⁡ 1 - c + y ⁢ s 0 y ⁢ x ⁡ 1 - c + z ⁢ s y 2 ⁡ 1 - c + c y ⁢ z ⁡ 1 - c - x ⁢ s 0 x ⁢ z ⁡ 1 - c - y ⁢ s y ⁢ z ⁡ 1 - c + x ⁢ s z 2 ⁡ 1 - c + c 0 0 0 0 1

Where c = cos ⁡ angle , s = sin ⁡ angle , and x y z = 1 (if not, the GL will normalize this vector).

If the matrix mode is either `GL_MODELVIEW` or `GL_PROJECTION`, all objects drawn after `glRotate` is called are rotated. Use glPushMatrix and glPopMatrix to save and restore the unrotated coordinate system.

## Notes

This rotation follows the right-hand rule, so if the vector x y z points toward the user, the rotation will be counterclockwise.

## Errors

`GL_INVALID_OPERATION` is generated if `glRotate` is executed between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd.

## Associated Gets

glGet with argument `GL_MATRIX_MODE`

glGet with argument `GL_COLOR_MATRIX`

glGet with argument `GL_MODELVIEW_MATRIX`

glGet with argument `GL_PROJECTION_MATRIX`

glGet with argument `GL_TEXTURE_MATRIX`

## Tutorials

## See Also

glMatrixMode, glMultMatrix, glPushMatrix, glScale, glTranslate

## 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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