Light | Dark

# docs.GL

OpenGL 3
OpenGL 2

# glSecondaryColorPointer

## Name

glSecondaryColorPointer — define an array of secondary colors

## C Specification

`void glSecondaryColorPointer(` | GLint | size,
| GLenum | type,
| GLsizei | stride,
| const GLvoid * | pointer`)`;

## Parameters

`size`

  Specifies the number of components per color. Must be 3.

`type`

  Specifies the data type of each color component in the array. Symbolic constants `GL_BYTE`, `GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE`, `GL_SHORT`, `GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT`, `GL_INT`, `GL_UNSIGNED_INT`, `GL_FLOAT`, or `GL_DOUBLE` are accepted. The initial value is `GL_FLOAT`.

`stride`

  Specifies the byte offset between consecutive colors. If `stride` is 0, the colors are understood to be tightly packed in the array. The initial value is 0.

`pointer`

  Specifies a pointer to the first component of the first color element in the array. The initial value is 0.

## Description

`glSecondaryColorPointer` specifies the location and data format of an array of color components to use when rendering. `size` specifies the number of components per color, and must be 3. `type` specifies the data type of each color component, and `stride` specifies the byte stride from one color to the next, allowing vertices and attributes to be packed into a single array or stored in separate arrays.

If a non-zero named buffer object is bound to the `GL_ARRAY_BUFFER` target (see glBindBuffer) while a secondary color array is specified, `pointer` is treated as a byte offset into the buffer object's data store. Also, the buffer object binding (`GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING`) is saved as secondary color vertex array client-side state (`GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING`).

When a secondary color array is specified, `size`, `type`, `stride`, and `pointer` are saved as client-side state, in addition to the current vertex array buffer object binding.

To enable and disable the secondary color array, call glEnableClientState and glDisableClientState with the argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY`. If enabled, the secondary color array is used when glArrayElement, glDrawArrays, glMultiDrawArrays, glDrawElements, glMultiDrawElements, or glDrawRangeElements is called.

## Notes

`glSecondaryColorPointer` is available only if the GL version is 1.4 or greater.

Secondary colors are not supported for interleaved vertex array formats (see glInterleavedArrays).

The secondary color array is initially disabled and isn't accessed when glArrayElement, glDrawElements, glDrawRangeElements, glDrawArrays, glMultiDrawArrays, or glMultiDrawElements is called.

Execution of `glSecondaryColorPointer` is not allowed between the execution of glBegin and the corresponding execution of glEnd, but an error may or may not be generated. If no error is generated, the operation is undefined.

`glSecondaryColorPointer` is typically implemented on the client side.

Secondary color array parameters are client-side state and are therefore not saved or restored by glPushAttrib and glPopAttrib. Use glPushClientAttrib and glPopClientAttrib instead.

## Errors

`GL_INVALID_VALUE` is generated if `size` is not 3.

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

`GL_INVALID_VALUE` is generated if `stride` is negative.

## Associated Gets

glIsEnabled with argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY`

glGet with argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY_SIZE`

glGet with argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY_TYPE`

glGet with argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY_STRIDE`

glGet with argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING`

glGet with argument `GL_ARRAY_BUFFER_BINDING`

glGetPointerv with argument `GL_SECONDARY_COLOR_ARRAY_POINTER`

## See Also

glArrayElement, glBindBuffer, glColorPointer, glDisableClientState, glDrawArrays, glDrawElements, glDrawRangeElements, glEdgeFlagPointer, glEnableClientState, glFogCoordPointer, glIndexPointer, glInterleavedArrays, glMultiDrawArrays, glMultiDrawElements, glNormalPointer, glPopClientAttrib, glPushClientAttrib, glSecondaryColor, glTexCoordPointer, glVertexAttribPointer, glVertexPointer

## 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/.

Think you can improve this page? Edit this page on GitHub.