STL is the standard for 3D printing, glTF is the modern format for web visualization and AR/VR. Both support 3D geometry but are optimized for different tasks.
| Criteria | STL | glTF |
|---|---|---|
| 3D printing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Web visualization | ✗ | ✓ |
| Colors & materials | ✗ | ✓ |
| Simplicity | ✓ | ✗ |
| Animation | ✗ | ✓ |
For 3D printing city models, architectural models, prototyping.
For web visualization, Three.js/Cesium, AR apps, presentations.