Reference

USDZ (AR)

USDZ is a 3D file format Apple uses for augmented reality on iPhone and iPad. It packages a USD scene and its textures into a single file that opens in AR Quick Look, letting you place a 3D object in your real space.

Files & formatsiOSGeneral

USDZ (AR)

Also known as: .usdz file, Universal Scene Description zip, AR Quick Look

Apple’s AR format, opens in AR Quick Look
Bundles a USD scene and textures in one file
Popular for product and shopping previews

How USDZ powers AR on iPhone

USDZ is a zipped package of Pixar’s USD (Universal Scene Description) plus its textures, bundled so a whole 3D model travels as one file. Tap a USDZ on iOS and AR Quick Look lets you view and place it in your room.

It is widely used for product previews — furniture, shoes, gadgets — letting shoppers see items at real scale before buying.

Creating and viewing USDZ

You can export USDZ from many 3D tools or Apple’s Reality Composer, and convert from formats like glTF and OBJ. On iPhone and iPad it just works; on other platforms support varies.

Related terms

Keep reading the reference.

Files & formatsglTF / GLB (3D)glTF is an open, royalty-free 3D format from the Khronos Group, often called "the JPEG of 3D." It bundles geometry, materials, textures, and animation in a compact, runtime-ready form, and GLB is its single-file binary version used on the web and in AR.General Files & formatsOBJ (3D model)OBJ is a plain-text 3D geometry format that stores a model’s vertices, faces, and texture coordinates. It is one of the most widely supported interchange formats, but it carries no animation and stores materials in a separate .mtl file.General Files & formatsFBX (3D)FBX is a rich 3D interchange format owned by Autodesk that can carry geometry, materials, textures, rigs, and animation in a single file. It is the common pipeline format for games and film, and files tend to be large because they bundle so much.General

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