STL files are an essential element in the world of 3D printing and computer graphics. In this article, we will deal in detail with this file format and shed light on all important aspects. What are STL files? STL stands for Standard Tessellation Language or Standard Triangle Language. It is a file format that is mainly used for 3D printing. STL files contain information about the geometry of a three-dimensional object consisting of a variety of triangles. These triangles are defined by their vertices and can have different shapes and sizes. Use of STL files Since STL files describe the geometry of an object, they are essential for the 3D printing process. Before an object can be printed, it must be converted to an STL format. This allows the printer to build the shape of the object layer by layer. STL files are also used in computer graphics to represent and manipulate virtual objects. Advantages of STL files One of the main advantages of STL files is their simplicity. They contain only geometric information and are therefore relatively easy to create and process. In addition, STL files are platform-independent and can be read by most 3D printers and CAD programs. This makes it a universal file format for 3D printing. Extensions and further developments Although STL files are widely used, they also have some limitations. For example, they can only represent the shape of an object and not colors, textures or materials. In order to overcome these limitations, various extensions and further developments of the STL format have been developed. These include, for example, the Binary STL format and the STL+ format. Summary STL files are a fundamental element in the field of 3D printing and computer graphics. They contain geometric information about a three-dimensional object and are used for the 3D printing process. STL files are easy to create and universally readable, but also limited in their possibilities. Nevertheless, they play an important role in the world of 3D printing.