WebGPU
WebGPU is a modern web graphics and compute API designed as the successor to WebGL, standardized by the W3C and shipped in production browsers in 2023. WebGPU exposes Vulkan/Metal/Direct3D 12-class GPU features through a sandboxed JavaScript and WebAssembly interface, enabling browser-based CAD viewers, real-time engineering simulation, and AI-assisted surfacing without native plugins.
Why it matters
WebGPU is what makes browser-native CAD viable for production engineering — Onshape, the various 3DEXPERIENCE web apps, and emerging cloud-CAD startups all benefit from compute-shader access in the browser. For PLM specifically, WebGPU is the substrate that lets a Teamcenter or Windchill web client render millions of triangles and run client-side analytics without a heavy native desktop install — a meaningful piece of every cloud-PLM rollout.
External References
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “WebGPU.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/webgpu