Scanning & XR · Beginner

Virtual reality

A headset experience that puts you inside a fully digital 3D world

Also called VR

What is virtual reality?

Virtual reality, or VR, puts you inside a fully digital 3D world through a headset that covers your view. The headset tracks your head, and often your hands, so the scene responds as you look around and move. Because it replaces your surroundings, it is used for games, training, design reviews and virtual tours.

Think of it like this

It is like stepping inside a model village that redraws itself around you whenever you turn or lean.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Export: Saving and sharing the result: file formats, engines and printing.

How virtual reality works

  1. 01A headset shows a slightly different image to each eye, which creates depth.
  2. 02Sensors track your head, and often your hands, many times a second.
  3. 03The scene is rendered again from your new position every frame.
  4. 04Controllers or hand tracking let you reach in and interact.

Virtual reality vs 360 video

PropertyVirtual reality360 video
Moving aroundWalk and lean inside the sceneOnly turn your head
Made from3D scenes rendered liveFootage from a 360 camera
InteractionPick up and use thingsWatch only

Choose 360 video to film a real place simply; choose full VR when people need to move, interact or explore.

Where virtual reality is used

  • Games and interactive stories
  • Safety and skills training in realistic settings
  • Walking through buildings and products before they exist
  • Reviewing 3D scenes at true scale

Beginner tip

VR needs smooth, steady frame rates, or people feel sick. Keep scenes light, bake lighting where you can, and test in the headset early, since scale looks very different there.

Terms related to virtual reality

Virtual reality FAQ

What do you need for virtual reality?
A VR headset, either standalone with its own processor or one that connects to a computer. Standalone headsets are the easiest way to start; computer-connected ones can show more detailed scenes.
How do I make 3D models for VR?
Build them like game assets: real-world scale, modest polycounts, efficient textures and levels of detail. Import them into a game engine that supports VR, then test in the headset, because size and detail read differently there.
Why does VR cause motion sickness?
It happens when your eyes see motion your body does not feel, such as gliding through a scene while standing still, or when the frame rate drops. Teleport-style movement and steady, high frame rates reduce it for most people.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms