---
name: "SoVRMLPointLight"
section: "3"
platform: "linux"
package: "coin"
version: "1:4.0.10-1"
release: "Arch Linux 2026-11-01"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/SoVRMLPointLight"
---

# SoVRMLPointLight(3)

The SoVRMLPointLight class is used to represent a point light.

## NAME

SoVRMLPointLight - The **SoVRMLPointLight** class is used to represent a point light.

## SYNOPSIS

\#include \<Inventor/VRMLnodes/SoVRMLPointLight.h\>

Inherits **SoVRMLLight**.

### Public Member Functions

virtual **SoType** **getTypeId** (void) const\
 **SoVRMLPointLight** (void)\
 virtual void **GLRender** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** void **setOverride** (const SbBool state)\
 SbBool **isOverride** (void) const\
 void **setNodeType** (const **NodeType** type)\
 **NodeType** **getNodeType** (void) const\
 virtual **SoNode** \* **copy** (SbBool copyconnections=FALSE) const\
 virtual SbBool **affectsState** (void) const\
 virtual void **doAction** (**SoAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderBelowPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderInPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **GLRenderOffPath** (**SoGLRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **callback** (**SoCallbackAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getBoundingBox** (**SoGetBoundingBoxAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getMatrix** (**SoGetMatrixAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **handleEvent** (**SoHandleEventAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **pick** (**SoPickAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **rayPick** (**SoRayPickAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **search** (**SoSearchAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **write** (**SoWriteAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **audioRender** (**SoAudioRenderAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **getPrimitiveCount** (**SoGetPrimitiveCountAction** \*action)\
 virtual void **grabEventsSetup** (void)\
 virtual void **grabEventsCleanup** (void)\
 virtual void **startNotify** (void)\
 virtual void **notify** (**SoNotList** \*l)\
 SbUniqueId **getNodeId** (void) const\
 virtual **SoChildList** \* **getChildren** (void) const\
 virtual void **writeInstance** (**SoOutput** \*out)\
 virtual **SoNode** \* **addToCopyDict** (void) const\
 virtual void **copyContents** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*from, SbBool copyconnections)\
 virtual **SoFieldContainer** \* **copyThroughConnection** (void) const\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** void **setToDefaults** (void)\
 SbBool **hasDefaultValues** (void) const\
 SbBool **fieldsAreEqual** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*container) const\
 void **copyFieldValues** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*container, SbBool copyconnections=FALSE)\
 SbBool **set** (const char \*const fielddata)\
 void **get** (**SbString** &fielddata)\
 virtual int **getFields** (**SoFieldList** &l) const\
 virtual int **getAllFields** (**SoFieldList** &l) const\
 virtual **SoField** \* **getField** (const **SbName** &name) const\
 virtual **SoField** \* **getEventIn** (const **SbName** &name) const\
 virtual **SoField** \* **getEventOut** (const **SbName** &name) const\
 SbBool **getFieldName** (const **SoField** \*const field, **SbName** &name) const\
 SbBool **enableNotify** (const SbBool flag)\
 SbBool **isNotifyEnabled** (void) const\
 SbBool **set** (const char \*fielddata, **SoInput** \*input)\
 void **get** (**SbString** &fielddata, **SoOutput** \*out)\
 virtual SbBool **validateNewFieldValue** (**SoField** \*field, void \*newval)\
 virtual void **addWriteReference** (**SoOutput** \*out, SbBool isfromfield=FALSE)\
 SbBool **getIsBuiltIn** (void) const\
 virtual void **getFieldsMemorySize** (size\_t &managed, size\_t &unmanaged) const\
 void **setUserData** (void \*userdata) const\
 void \* **getUserData** (void) const\

Public Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** void **ref** (void) const\
 void **unref** (void) const\
 void **unrefNoDelete** (void) const\
 int32\_t **getRefCount** (void) const\
 void **touch** (void)\
 SbBool **isOfType** (**SoType** type) const\
 Returns TRUE if the type of this object is either of the same type or inherited from *type*.  virtual **SbName** **getName** (void) const\
 virtual void **setName** (const **SbName** &newname)\
 void **addAuditor** (void \*const auditor, const **SoNotRec::Type** type)\
 void **removeAuditor** (void \*const auditor, const **SoNotRec::Type** type)\
 const **SoAuditorList** & **getAuditors** (void) const\
 SbBool **shouldWrite** (void)\
 void **assertAlive** (void) const\

### Static Public Member Functions

static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoVRMLLight** static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** static uint32\_t **getCompatibilityTypes** (const **SoType** &nodetype)\
 static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 static **SoNode** \* **getByName** (const **SbName** &name)\
 static int **getByName** (const **SbName** &name, **SoNodeList** &l)\
 static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.     static void **initClasses** (void)\
 static SbUniqueId **getNextNodeId** (void)\
 static int **getActionMethodIndex** (const **SoType** type)\
 static void **getBoundingBoxS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **GLRenderS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **callbackS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **getMatrixS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **handleEventS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **pickS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **rayPickS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **searchS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **writeS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **audioRenderS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\
 static void **getPrimitiveCountS** (**SoAction** \*action, **SoNode** \*node)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.     static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class.     static void **cleanupClass** (void)\
 static void **initCopyDict** (void)\
 static void **addCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig, const **SoFieldContainer** \*copy)\
 static **SoFieldContainer** \* **checkCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig)\
 static **SoFieldContainer** \* **findCopy** (const **SoFieldContainer** \*orig, const SbBool copyconnections)\
 static void **copyDone** (void)\

Static Public Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** static void **initClass** (void)\
 Sets up initialization for data common to all instances of this class, like submitting necessary information to the Coin type system.  static **SoType** **getClassTypeId** (void)\
 This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class.  static void **addName** (**SoBase** \*const base, const char \*const name)\
 static void **removeName** (**SoBase** \*const base, const char \*const name)\
 static void **incrementCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\
 static void **decrementCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\
 static **SoBase** \* **getNamedBase** (const **SbName** &name, **SoType** type)\
 static int **getNamedBases** (const **SbName** &name, **SoBaseList** &baselist, **SoType** type)\
 static SbBool **read** (**SoInput** \*input, **SoBase** \*&base, **SoType** expectedtype)\
 static void **setInstancePrefix** (const **SbString** &c)\
 static void **setTraceRefs** (SbBool trace)\
 static SbBool **getTraceRefs** (void)\
 static SbBool **connectRoute** (**SoInput** \*input, const **SbName** &fromnodename, const **SbName** &fromfieldname, const **SbName** &tonodename, const **SbName** &tofieldname)\
 static SbBool **readRoute** (**SoInput** \*input)\

### Public Attributes

**SoSFVec3f** **location**\
 **SoSFFloat** **radius**\
 **SoSFVec3f** **attenuation**\

Public Attributes inherited from **SoVRMLLight** **SoSFBool** **on**\
 **SoSFFloat** **intensity**\
 **SoSFColor** **color**\
 **SoSFFloat** **ambientIntensity**\

### Protected Member Functions

virtual const **SoFieldData** \* **getFieldData** (void) const\
 virtual **~SoVRMLPointLight** ()\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoVRMLLight** **SoVRMLLight** (void)\
 virtual **~SoVRMLLight** ()\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** **SoNode** (void)\
 virtual **~SoNode** ()\
 virtual SbBool **readInstance** (**SoInput** \*in, unsigned short flags)\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoFieldContainer** **SoFieldContainer** (void)\
 virtual **~SoFieldContainer** ()\

Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** **SoBase** (void)\
 virtual **~SoBase** ()\
 virtual void **destroy** (void)\
 SbBool **hasMultipleWriteRefs** (void) const\
 SbBool **writeHeader** (**SoOutput** \*out, SbBool isgroup, SbBool isengine) const\
 void **writeFooter** (**SoOutput** \*out) const\
 virtual const char \* **getFileFormatName** (void) const\
 virtual **SoNotRec** **createNotRec** (void)\

### Static Protected Member Functions

static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoVRMLLight** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoNode** static const **SoFieldData** \*\* **getFieldDataPtr** (void)\
 static void **setNextActionMethodIndex** (int index)\
 static int **getNextActionMethodIndex** (void)\
 static void **incNextActionMethodIndex** (void)\
 static void **setCompatibilityTypes** (const **SoType** &nodetype, const uint32\_t bitmask)\

Static Protected Member Functions inherited from **SoBase** static uint32\_t **getCurrentWriteCounter** (void)\
 static void **staticDataLock** (void)\
 static void **staticDataUnlock** (void)\

### Additional Inherited Members

Public Types inherited from **SoNode** enum **NodeType** { **INVENTOR** = 0x0000, **VRML1** = 0x0001, **VRML2** = 0x0002, **INVENTOR\_1** = 0x0004, **INVENTOR\_2\_0** = 0x0008, **INVENTOR\_2\_1** = 0x0010, **INVENTOR\_2\_5** = 0x0020, **INVENTOR\_2\_6** = 0x0040, **COIN\_1\_0** = 0x0080, **COIN\_2\_0** = 0x0100, **EXTENSION** = 0x0200, **COIN\_2\_2** = 0x0400, **COIN\_2\_3** = 0x0800, **COIN\_2\_4** = 0x1000, **INVENTOR\_5\_0** = 0x2000, **COIN\_2\_5** = 0x4000, **COIN\_3\_0** = 0x8000, **INVENTOR\_6\_0** = 0x10000, **COIN\_4\_0** = 0x20000 }\

Protected Types inherited from **SoBase** enum **BaseFlags** { **IS\_ENGINE** = 0x01, **IS\_GROUP** = 0x02 }\

Protected Attributes inherited from **SoNode** SbUniqueId **uniqueId**\

Protected Attributes inherited from **SoFieldContainer** SbBool **isBuiltIn**\

Static Protected Attributes inherited from **SoNode** static SbUniqueId **nextUniqueId** = 1\
 static int **nextActionMethodIndex** = 0\

## Detailed Description

The **SoVRMLPointLight** class is used to represent a point light.

**The detailed class documentation is taken verbatim from the VRML97 standard (ISO/IEC 14772-1:1997). It is copyright The Web3D Consortium, and is used by permission of the Consortium:**\

```
PointLight {
  exposedField SFFloat ambientIntensity  0       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f attenuation       1 0 0   # [0, inf)
  exposedField SFColor color             1 1 1   # [0,1]
  exposedField SFFloat intensity         1       # [0,1]
  exposedField SFVec3f location          0 0 0   # (-inf, inf)
  exposedField SFBool  on                TRUE
  exposedField SFFloat radius            100     # [0, inf)
}
```

The PointLight node specifies a point light source at a 3D location in the local coordinate system. A point light source emits light equally in all directions; that is, it is omnidirectional. PointLight nodes are specified in the local coordinate system and are affected by ancestor transformations. Subclause 4.6.6, Light sources (http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/14772/V2.0/part1/concepts.html#4.6.6), contains a detailed description of the ambientIntensity, color, and intensity fields.

A PointLight node illuminates geometry within radius metres of its location. Both *radius* and *location* are affected by ancestors' transformations (scales affect *radius* and transformations affect *location*).

The *radius* field shall be greater than or equal to zero. PointLight node's illumination falls off with distance as specified by three attenuation coefficients. The attenuation factor is 1/ max(attenuation\[0\] + attenuation\[1\]×r + attenuation\[2\]×r2, 1), where r is the distance from the light to the surface being illuminated. The default is no attenuation. An attenuation value of (0, 0, 0) is identical to (1, 0, 0). Attenuation values shall be greater than or equal to zero. A detailed description of VRML's lighting equations is contained in 4.14, Lighting model (http://www.web3d.org/documents/specifications/14772/V2.0/part1/concepts.html#4.14).

## Constructor & Destructor Documentation

### SoVRMLPointLight::SoVRMLPointLight (void )

Constructor.

### SoVRMLPointLight::~SoVRMLPointLight () \[protected\], \[virtual\]

Destructor.

## Member Function Documentation

### SoType SoVRMLPointLight::getClassTypeId (void ) \[static\]

This static method returns the **SoType** object associated with objects of this class.

### SoType SoVRMLPointLight::getTypeId (void ) const \[virtual\]

Returns the type identification of an object derived from a class inheriting **SoBase**. This is used for runtime type checking and "downward" casting.

Reimplemented from **SoVRMLLight**.

### const SoFieldData \*\* SoVRMLPointLight::getFieldDataPtr (void ) \[static\], \[protected\]

*This API member is considered internal to the library, as it is not likely to be of interest to the application programmer.*\

 Returns the **SoFieldData** class which holds information about fields in this node.

### const SoFieldData \* SoVRMLPointLight::getFieldData (void ) const \[protected\], \[virtual\]

Returns a pointer to the class-wide field data storage object for this instance. If no fields are present, returns NULL.

Reimplemented from **SoVRMLLight**.

### void SoVRMLPointLight::initClass (void ) \[static\]

### void SoVRMLPointLight::GLRender (SoGLRenderAction \* action) \[virtual\]

Action method for the **SoGLRenderAction**.

This is called during rendering traversals. Nodes influencing the rendering state in any way or want to throw geometry primitives at OpenGL override this method.

Reimplemented from **SoVRMLLight**.

## Member Data Documentation

### SoSFVec3f SoVRMLPointLight::location

Point light position.

### SoSFFloat SoVRMLPointLight::radius

Radius of point light.

### SoSFVec3f SoVRMLPointLight::attenuation

The point light attenuation.

## Author

Generated automatically by Doxygen for Coin from the source code.
