Blender

aid: blender
name: Blender
description: Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite supporting the entirety of the 3D pipeline including modeling,
  rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing, motion tracking, video editing, and game creation. Blender's Python
  API provides extensive scripting capabilities for automation, tool development, and addon creation, enabling developers
  to extend Blender with custom functionality. The project is governed by the Blender Foundation and maintained at blender.org.
type: Index
image: https://kinlane-images.s3.amazonaws.com/shared/apis-json/apis-json-logo.jpg
tags:
- 3D
- Animation
- Game Development
- Modeling
- Open Source
- Python
- Rendering
- VFX
url: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/api-evangelist/blender/refs/heads/main/apis.yml
created: '2024-01-01'
modified: '2026-04-21'
specificationVersion: '0.19'
apis:
- aid: blender:blender-python-api
  name: Blender Python API
  description: The Blender Python API (bpy) provides Python access to Blender's internal data, operators, and UI components.
    It enables developers to automate tasks, create addons, build custom tools, manipulate scene data, interact with the render
    pipeline, and extend Blender's interface. The API is embedded within Blender and does not expose HTTP endpoints; it is
    invoked via Blender's built-in Python interpreter or through command-line batch rendering.
  humanURL: https://docs.blender.org/api/current/
  tags:
  - Addons
  - Automation
  - Open Source
  - Python
  - Scripting
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.blender.org/api/current/
  - type: GitHub
    url: https://github.com/blender/blender
  - type: GettingStarted
    url: https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html
  - type: Tutorials
    url: https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_tips_and_tricks.html
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/blender-addon-manifest-schema.json
  - type: JSONSchema
    url: json-schema/blender-bpy-operator-schema.json
  - type: JSONStructure
    url: json-structure/blender-addon-manifest-structure.json
  - type: JSONStructure
    url: json-structure/blender-bpy-operator-structure.json
  - type: JSONLD
    url: json-ld/blender-context.jsonld
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/blender-addon-manifest-example.json
  - type: Examples
    url: examples/blender-bpy-operator-example.json
- aid: blender:blender-extensions
  name: Blender Extensions Platform
  description: The Blender Extensions Platform (extensions.blender.org) provides a curated repository of addons, themes, and
    node presets for Blender. The platform supports structured addon packaging, versioning, and distribution. Developers can
    publish addons with metadata via the extensions.blender.org manifest format.
  humanURL: https://extensions.blender.org
  tags:
  - Addons
  - Extensions
  - Marketplace
  - Open Source
  properties:
  - type: Documentation
    url: https://docs.blender.org/manual/en/latest/extensions/index.html
  - type: Portal
    url: https://extensions.blender.org
common:
- type: LinkedIn
  url: https://www.linkedin.com/company/blender-foundation
- type: Website
  url: https://www.blender.org/
- type: Documentation
  url: https://docs.blender.org/
- type: GettingStarted
  url: https://docs.blender.org/api/current/info_quickstart.html
- type: Community
  url: https://www.blender.org/community/
- type: Support
  url: https://www.blender.org/support/
- type: GitHubOrganization
  url: https://github.com/blender
- type: GitHub
  url: https://github.com/blender/blender
- type: Blog
  url: https://www.blender.org/news/
- type: Training
  url: https://www.blender.org/training/
- type: FAQ
  url: https://www.blender.org/support/faq/
- type: ReleaseNotes
  url: https://developer.blender.org/docs/release_notes/
- type: License
  url: https://www.blender.org/about/license/
  title: GPL-2.0-or-later
- type: PackageRegistry
  url: https://extensions.blender.org
- type: SpectralRules
  url: rules/blender-spectral-rules.yml
- type: Vocabulary
  url: vocabulary/blender-vocabulary.yaml
- type: Features
  data:
  - name: Python Scripting (bpy)
    description: The bpy module provides access to Blender's internal data model, allowing Python scripts to create, read,
      update, and delete scene objects, materials, animations, constraints, and render settings.
  - name: Operator Framework
    description: Blender's operator system allows Python developers to create custom operators (commands) accessible from
      menus, panels, keyboard shortcuts, and scripts.
  - name: Addon Development
    description: Blender addons are Python packages extending functionality across modeling, rigging, animation, rendering,
      import/export, and UI. Distributed via the Extensions Platform or bundled directly.
  - name: Node Groups and Geometry Nodes
    description: Geometry Nodes and Shader Nodes provide visual programming for procedural modeling and materials, scriptable
      via the Python API.
  - name: Render Pipeline Integration
    description: Python API integrates with Blender's Cycles and EEVEE render engines for batch rendering, render farm integration,
      and custom render pipeline control.
  - name: Command-Line Interface
    description: Blender can be invoked headlessly via CLI for batch rendering, script execution, and pipeline automation
      without a GUI.
  - name: Asset Library System
    description: Blender 3.x+ includes an asset library system with Python API support for managing and accessing reusable
      3D assets across projects.
- type: UseCases
  data:
  - name: Pipeline Automation
    description: VFX and animation studios automate Blender production pipelines using Python scripts for batch rendering,
      asset processing, and scene assembly.
  - name: Addon Development
    description: Developers create custom tools and plugins extending Blender's functionality for modeling, rigging, simulation,
      and export workflows.
  - name: Headless Rendering
    description: Blender is used for headless server-side rendering via CLI and Python scripts in cloud rendering pipelines
      and automated content generation workflows.
  - name: Procedural Content Generation
    description: Python scripts and Geometry Nodes enable procedural generation of 3D assets for games, VFX, and architectural
      visualization.
  - name: Education and Research
    description: Universities, research labs, and educators use Blender's Python API for 3D visualization, scientific rendering,
      and computer graphics research.
- type: Integrations
  data:
  - name: Cycles X Render Engine
    description: Blender's built-in path-tracing render engine with Python API access for controlling render settings, passes,
      and denoising.
  - name: USD (Universal Scene Description)
    description: Blender supports import and export of Pixar USD scenes, enabling pipeline integration with VFX and game development
      workflows.
  - name: glTF 2.0
    description: Blender has built-in glTF 2.0 import/export support with Python API access, enabling web, AR/VR, and game
      engine pipelines.
  - name: OpenVDB
    description: Blender supports OpenVDB for volumetric simulation and rendering, with Python API access to volume data and
      simulation parameters.
  - name: ACES Color Management
    description: Blender integrates with OpenColorIO for ACES and professional color pipeline support in VFX productions.
maintainers:
- FN: Kin Lane
  email: kin@apievangelist.com