# PLY Viewer

Free online PLY viewer. Open and preview 3D models (.ply) directly in your browser — no upload, no 3D software.

> Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/viewers/ply

- **Category:** 3D Models

- **Supported formats:** .ply

## Overview

This PLY viewer renders Polygon 3D models directly in your browser using WebGL. PLY (.ply) is a flexible format for storing 3D data from 3D scanners and scientific applications, supporting vertices, faces, colors and custom properties. Pick a sample model or choose your own .ply file to preview it in an interactive 3D viewport, with no upload.

## When to use

- You received a .ply file from a 3D scanner and want to view it.
- You need a quick, private preview of point cloud or mesh data.
- You want to inspect a PLY model on any device.

## How it works

- Select a built-in sample model or choose your own .ply file.
- The viewer loads the model with WebGL (three.js) in your browser — nothing is uploaded.
- Rotate, zoom and pan to inspect the 3D data.

## Use cases

- Previewing 3D scan point clouds.
- Inspecting scientific and medical 3D data.
- Checking PLY exports from photogrammetry tools.

## Samples

- **Sample PLY Model**: A PLY 3D model sample for in-browser preview

## Frequently asked questions

### What is a PLY file?

PLY (.ply, Polygon File Format or Stanford Triangle Format) is a 3D data format developed at Stanford University. It stores vertices, faces and optionally per-vertex properties like color and normals. PLY is widely used for 3D scanned data and point clouds.

### Are my PLY files uploaded?

No. Models you open from your device stay on your device and are rendered locally with WebGL. Only the public sample model is requested from the server.

### Does PLY support color data?

Yes. Unlike STL, PLY can store per-vertex color (RGB), normals and custom properties, making it ideal for 3D scan data where color information is important. Both ASCII and binary versions are supported.

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