DAE (COLLADA)
Also known as: .dae file, COLLADA, how to open DAE
DAE is the file extension for COLLADA, an open XML-based 3D interchange format. It can store geometry, materials, textures, and animation as readable text, and it was a common bridge between 3D tools before glTF became the modern web standard.
- Open XML-based 3D format, also called COLLADA
- Stores geometry, materials, and animation as text
- Largely superseded by glTF for modern interchange
What a DAE file stores
COLLADA (Collaborative Design Activity) saves 3D scenes as XML with the .dae extension. It can describe meshes, materials, textures, lights, cameras, rigs, and animation, aiming to let assets pass between different programs without lock-in.
Because it is verbose text, a DAE is typically larger than an equivalent binary file. It was an open standard maintained by the Khronos Group, the same group that later created glTF.
How DAE is used today
DAE still opens in Blender, SketchUp, macOS Preview/Xcode (where it underpins SceneKit assets), and many 3D viewers, so you may meet it in older asset libraries and tutorials.
For new work, glTF/GLB has largely replaced COLLADA as the lightweight interchange and web format. Converting an old DAE to glTF usually gives a smaller, better-supported file.