.METAL File Extension
Metal Shading Language File
| Developer | Apple |
| Popularity |
4.0 | 2 Votes |
What is a METAL file?
A METAL file contains Metal Shading Language (MSL), a C++-based programming language that more tightly integrates compute programs with 3D graphics on various Apple platforms. Developers using Apple Xcode (a macOS IDE) may build METAL files into METALLIB libraries when developing an app to improve its performance (compared to compiling the shader source code during the app's runtime). Any source code or text editor can open and edit METAL files.
More Information
Apple introduced the Metal API in 2014 (debuting in iOS 8) to improve the graphic performance of iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS apps. The Metal Shading Language determines GPU performance and is saved in METAL files.
Developers using Xcode to create apps for platforms such as iOS and macOS may build METAL files into default libraries to improve app graphic performance. In this case, Xcode automatically generates METALLIB files from METAL files.
Developers may also use the Xcode metal command-line utility to compile multiple METAL files into a single AIR file. Then, they may use the metallib tool to build AIR files into METALLIB libraries for use by the app.
How to open a METAL file
You can open METAL files with Apple Xcode in macOS. For example, to open a METAL file, select .
You can also open and edit METAL files with various source code and plain text editors, such as Microsoft Visual Studio Code (multiplatform), Microsoft Notepad (bundled with Windows) or Apple TextEdit (bundled with macOS). It's important to note that source code editors are better for viewing and modifying METAL files than plain text editors since they provide features like source code highlighting.