# glStencilFunc

set front and back function and reference value for stencil testing

## Signature

glStencilFunc( GLenum ( func ) , GLint ( ref ) , GLuint ( mask ) )-> void
glStencilFunc( func , ref , )

## Parameters

VariablesDescription
func
Specifies the test function. Eight symbolic constants are valid: GL_NEVER , GL_LESS , GL_LEQUAL , GL_GREATER , GL_GEQUAL , GL_EQUAL , GL_NOTEQUAL , and GL_ALWAYS . The initial value is GL_ALWAYS .
ref
Specifies the reference value for the stencil test. ref is clamped to the range $\left[0,{2}^{\mathit{n}}-1\right]$ , where $\mathit{n}$ is the number of bitplanes in the stencil buffer. The initial value is 0.
Specifies a mask that is ANDed with both the reference value and the stored stencil value when the test is done. The initial value is all 1's.

## Description

Stenciling, like depth-buffering, enables and disables drawing on a per-pixel basis. Stencil planes are first drawn into using GL drawing primitives, then geometry and images are rendered using the stencil planes to mask out portions of the screen. Stenciling is typically used in multipass rendering algorithms to achieve special effects, such as decals, outlining, and constructive solid geometry rendering.
The stencil test conditionally eliminates a pixel based on the outcome of a comparison between the reference value and the value in the stencil buffer. To enable and disable the test, call glEnable and glDisable with argument GL_STENCIL_TEST . To specify actions based on the outcome of the stencil test, call glStencilOp or glStencilOpSeparate .
There can be two separate sets of func , ref , and mask parameters; one affects back-facing polygons, and the other affects front-facing polygons as well as other non-polygon primitives. glStencilFunc sets both front and back stencil state to the same values. Use glStencilFuncSeparate to set front and back stencil state to different values.
func is a symbolic constant that determines the stencil comparison function. It accepts one of eight values, shown in the following list. ref is an integer reference value that is used in the stencil comparison. It is clamped to the range $\left[0,{2}^{\mathit{n}}-1\right]$ , where $\mathit{n}$ is the number of bitplanes in the stencil buffer. mask is bitwise ANDed with both the reference value and the stored stencil value, with the ANDed values participating in the comparison.
If stencil represents the value stored in the corresponding stencil buffer location, the following list shows the effect of each comparison function that can be specified by func . Only if the comparison succeeds is the pixel passed through to the next stage in the rasterization process (see glStencilOp ). All tests treat stencil values as unsigned integers in the range $\left[0,{2}^{\mathit{n}}-1\right]$ , where $\mathit{n}$ is the number of bitplanes in the stencil buffer.
The following values are accepted by func :
GL_NEVER
Always fails.
GL_LESS
Passes if ( ref & mask ) < ( stencil & mask ).
GL_LEQUAL
Passes if ( ref & mask ) <= ( stencil & mask ).
GL_GREATER
Passes if ( ref & mask ) > ( stencil & mask ).
GL_GEQUAL
Passes if ( ref & mask ) >= ( stencil & mask ).
GL_EQUAL
Passes if ( ref & mask ) = ( stencil & mask ).
GL_NOTEQUAL
Passes if ( ref & mask ) != ( stencil & mask ).
GL_ALWAYS
Always passes.

## Notes

Initially, the stencil test is disabled. If there is no stencil buffer, no stencil modification can occur and it is as if the stencil test always passes.
glStencilFunc is the same as calling glStencilFuncSeparate with face set to GL_FRONT_AND_BACK .

## Errors

GL_INVALID_ENUM is generated if func is not one of the eight accepted values.

## Associated Gets

glGet with argument GL_STENCIL_FUNC , GL_STENCIL_VALUE_MASK , GL_STENCIL_REF , GL_STENCIL_BACK_FUNC , GL_STENCIL_BACK_VALUE_MASK , GL_STENCIL_BACK_REF , or GL_STENCIL_BITS
glIsEnabled with argument GL_STENCIL_TEST

## Sample Code References

The following code samples have been found which appear to reference the functions described here. Take care that the code may be old, broken or not even use PyOpenGL.

glStencilFunc
OpenGLContext OpenGLContext/shadow/passes.py Lines: 127, 246, 314, 351
OpenGL-Demo PyOpenGL-Demo/NeHe/lesson26.py Lines: 150, 158
{LGPL} PyMT pymt/graphx/stencil.py Lines: 21, 46, 81, 95, 109
{LGPL} Pyggel pyggel/misc.py Lines: 27, 38