Autodesk Maya

aid: autodesk-maya
name: Autodesk Maya
description: Autodesk Maya is a comprehensive 3D computer graphics application used for creating interactive 3D applications
  including video games, animated films, TV series, and visual effects. Maya provides multiple programming APIs including
  a Python API, C++ plugin API, MEL scripting language, USD integration, and Bifrost visual programming environment for extending
  and automating Maya workflows and creating custom tools and plugins.
type: Index
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
tags:
- 3D Graphics
- Animation
- Game Development
- Modeling
- Rendering
- Visual Effects
- VFX
- CAD
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/autodesk-maya/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2025-01-01'
modified: '2026-04-19'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- aid: autodesk-maya:maya-python-api
  name: Maya Python API
  description: Python API for scripting and extending Maya functionality, providing access to Maya's scene graph and node
    architecture. Includes Python API 2.0 with a more Pythonic workflow and improved performance via maya.api.OpenMaya, as
    well as Python API 1.0 via maya.OpenMaya and the maya.cmds wrapper for MEL commands.
  humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
  baseURL: https://localhost
  tags:
  - Automation
  - Python
  - Scripting
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_Python_API_Maya_Python_API_2_0_html
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_py_ref_index_html
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_Python_API_Python_API_2_0_Quick_Start_html
- aid: autodesk-maya:maya-cpp-api
  name: Maya C++ API
  description: C++ API providing low-level access to Maya's core functionality for creating plugins, custom nodes, and high-performance
    tools. The API is organized into functional libraries including OpenMaya, OpenMayaUI, OpenMayaAnim, OpenMayaFX, and OpenMayaRender.
  humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
  baseURL: https://localhost
  tags:
  - C++
  - Native
  - Performance
  - Plugins
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_cpp_ref_index_html
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_cpp_ref_index_html
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=Maya_SDK_MERGED_Maya_SDK_Maya_SDK_html
- aid: autodesk-maya:maya-mel-commands
  name: Maya Commands (MEL)
  description: Maya Embedded Language (MEL) scripting interface for automating tasks and customizing Maya workflows. MEL provides
    direct access to Maya commands and is the foundation of Maya's scripting capabilities.
  humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
  baseURL: https://localhost
  tags:
  - Automation
  - Commands
  - MEL
  - Scripting
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__CommandsPython_index_html
  - type: APIReference
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=__Commands_index_html
- aid: autodesk-maya:maya-usd-api
  name: Maya USD API
  description: Universal Scene Description (USD) integration for Maya, enabling exchange of 3D content between applications.
    Provides tools for importing, exporting, and working with USD stages and layers within Maya.
  humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/
  baseURL: https://localhost
  tags:
  - Interchange
  - Pipeline
  - Scene Description
  - USD
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2024/ENU/?guid=GUID-C7DB6AF9-653E-4B49-93D6-F9C2D0865B85
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/Autodesk/maya-usd
- aid: autodesk-maya:maya-bifrost-api
  name: Maya Bifrost API
  description: Bifrost is Maya's visual programming environment for creating simulation and procedural effects. It provides
    a node-based graph editor for building complex effects including fluids, particles, destruction, and procedural geometry,
    with SDK support for custom node development.
  humanURL: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=GUID-1223AA4F-1CD7-473C-87EA-C16C6B28F7FD
  baseURL: https://localhost
  tags:
  - Bifrost
  - Particles
  - Procedural Effects
  - Simulation
  - Visual Programming
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=Bifrost_MayaPlugin_bifrost_for_maya_html
  - type: GitHubRepository
    url: https://github.com/Autodesk/bifrost-usd
common:
- type: Portal
  url: https://www.autodesk.com/developer-network/platform-technologies/maya
- type: Documentation
  url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYADEV/2026/ENU/
- type: Support
  url: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/maya-programming/bd-p/area-c-maya-programming
- type: Blog
  url: https://www.autodesk.com/blogs/maya/
- type: Tutorials
  url: https://tutorials.autodesk.io/
- type: ReleaseNotes
  url: https://help.autodesk.com/view/MAYAUL/2026/ENU/?guid=MAYA_RELEASENOTES_2026_RELEASE_NOTES_HTML
- type: TermsOfService
  url: https://www.autodesk.com/company/legal-notices-trademarks/terms-of-service-autodesk360-web-services
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/autodesk-platform-services
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: Python API 2.0
    description: Modern Pythonic API with improved performance and a cleaner interface for accessing Maya's node architecture
      and scene graph via maya.api.OpenMaya.
  - name: C++ Plugin SDK
    description: Low-level C++ API for high-performance plugin development with access to Maya's full internal architecture
      through OpenMaya functional libraries.
  - name: MEL Scripting
    description: Maya Embedded Language for command-line scripting, UI automation, and batch processing of Maya scenes and
      assets.
  - name: USD Integration
    description: Universal Scene Description support for importing, exporting, and working with USD assets within Maya for
      cross-application 3D content pipelines.
  - name: Bifrost Visual Programming
    description: Node-based visual programming environment for creating procedural effects, simulations, and custom workflows
      without traditional coding.
  - name: Custom Node Development
    description: Create custom dependency graph nodes, deformers, and shape nodes that integrate natively into Maya's scene
      graph and evaluation system.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: VFX Pipeline Integration
    description: Integrating Maya into visual effects production pipelines with custom tools, asset management systems, and
      render farm automation.
  - name: Game Asset Automation
    description: Automating game asset creation, optimization, and export workflows for game engines like Unreal Engine and
      Unity through Maya scripting.
  - name: Animation Workflow Tools
    description: Building custom rigging systems, animation controls, and workflow tools to accelerate character animation
      production for film and TV.
  - name: Procedural Content Generation
    description: Using Bifrost and Python APIs to generate procedural geometry, textures, and scene content for games, visualization,
      and architectural projects.
  - name: DCC Pipeline Development
    description: Developing studio pipeline tools that automate scene assembly, asset tracking, and data interchange between
      Maya and other DCC applications.
- type: Integrations
  data:
  - name: Autodesk Arnold
    description: Integration with Arnold renderer via the MtoA (Maya to Arnold) plugin for photorealistic rendering of Maya
      scenes.
  - name: Unreal Engine
    description: USD-based pipeline integration with Unreal Engine for game asset export and visualization workflows.
  - name: ShotGrid (Flow Production Tracking)
    description: Integration with Autodesk ShotGrid for production tracking, asset management, and review workflows in film
      and TV production.
  - name: Houdini
    description: Interoperability with SideFX Houdini via USD and Alembic for visual effects simulation and procedural content
      pipelines.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com