Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 2, 2026

Open Asset Import Library

Open Asset Import Library (Assimp) is a cross-platform 3D model import library which aims to provide a common application programming interface (API) for different 3D asset file formats. Written in C++, it offers interfaces for both C and C++. Bindings to other languages are developed as part of the project or are available elsewhere. Given the importance and benefits of Assimp, a pure Java (/Kotlin) port is being developed here.

Last revised
Jun 2, 2026
Read time
≈ 2 min
Length
412 w
Citations
13
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Open Asset Import Library
DevelopersAlexander Gessler
Thomas Schulze
Kim Kulling, et al.
Stable release
6.0.51 Edit this on Wikidata / 30 April 2026 (30 April 2026)
Operating systemCross-platform
Type3D model import library
LicenseBSD
Websitewww.assimp.org
Repository

Open Asset Import Library (Assimp) is a cross-platform 3D model import library which aims to provide a common application programming interface (API) for different 3D asset file formats. Written in C++, it offers interfaces for both C and C++. Bindings to other languages (e.g., BlitzMax, C#, Python) are developed as part of the project or are available elsewhere.2 Given the importance and benefits of Assimp, a pure Java (/Kotlin) port is being developed here.

The imported data is provided in a straightforward, hierarchical data structure. Configurable post processing steps (i.e., normal and tangent generation, various optimizations) augment the feature set.3

Assimp currently supports 57 different file formats for reading, including COLLADA (.dae), 3DS, DirectX X, Wavefront OBJ and Blender 3D (.blend).4 As of Version 3.0 Assimp also provides export functionality for some file formats.5

Projects using Assimp

Several open source projects use Assimp, such as MonoGame6 and Urho3D.7

Resonite (and its predecessor NeosVR) – A social virtual reality platform that uses Assimp to import a wide range of 3D model formats, facilitating its real-time and collaborative content creation features. 89

Torque3D added Assimp in Torque3D 4.0.10

Godot added Assimp in Godot 3.2,11 but this was replaced in Godot 3.3 and later.1213

See also

See also

References

References

  1. "Release 6.0.5". 30 April 2026. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  2. "Docs". Archived from the original on 2018-03-10. Retrieved 2018-03-10.
  3. "Features".
  4. "Features".
  5. "Open Asset Import Library".
  6. "MonoGame.Dependencies/Assimp at master · MonoGame/MonoGame.Dependencies". GitHub.
  7. "urho3d/Source/ThirdParty/Assimp at master · urho3d/urho3d". GitHub.
  8. "3D Model Import". NeosVR Wiki (Archived). 2018-04-21. Archived from the original on 2023-07-28. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  9. "FrooxEngine - Resonite Wiki". wiki.resonite.com. Retrieved 2025-07-18.
  10. "Version 4.0". Torque3D.
  11. Lee, K. S. Ernest (iFire) (2018-11-19). "Add Open Asset Importer to Godot". Godot. Retrieved 2023-08-21. Supports various formats from Open Asset Import Library (assimp). The focus is on FBX and MMD.
  12. MacPherson, Gordon (2020-10-30). "FBX importer rewrite". Godot. Retrieved 2020-11-01. This is a complete rewrite of the importer. It will give more deterministic behavior. Over 1 year has gone into the development of this importer to remove the burden of the FBX SDK.
  13. Lee, K. S. Ernest (iFire) (2022-03-28). "Add fbx2gltf support for importing .fbx files". Godot. Retrieved 2023-08-21. Lets you drag or place .fbx files in the project folder and it will import the files. An editor setting sets the location of the fbx2gltf binary.
External links