Pronunciation: [ʃˈe͡ɪdə] (IPA) 
The word "shader" is spelled with the IPA phonetic transcription of /ʃeɪdər/. The first sound is "sh" as in "sheep" or "shampoo." The second sound is "ay" as in "hay" or "day." The third sound is "d" as in "dog" or "dad." The fourth sound is "ə" as in "about" or "sofa." Lastly, the word ends with the sound of "r" as in "red" or "rabbit." So, "shader" is pronounced as "shay-duh-r."
A shader is a program or code that is specifically designed to manipulate or control the rendering of graphics in a computer graphics pipeline. It is a crucial component in computer graphics rendering, responsible for determining how the surface of an object or scene is shaded, colored, and presented visually. Shaders are widely used in various applications, including video games, virtual reality, animation, and visual effects.
The term "shader" originates from the concept of shading in drawing or painting, which refers to the technique of adding areas of darkness or lightness to a two-dimensional artwork to create the illusion of three-dimensional depth. In computer graphics, shaders operate similarly but in a digital and dynamic context.
Shaders are written in dedicated shader languages, such as OpenGL Shading Language (GLSL) or High-Level Shading Language (HLSL), which allow developers to express complex rendering techniques and algorithms. They can define the behavior of vertices, how colors or textures are applied to a surface, or simulate complex lighting effects like shadows, reflections, and refractions.
There are different types of shaders, including vertex shaders, which manipulate the position and attributes of individual vertices of a 3D model, and pixel (or fragment) shaders, which control the color and appearance of pixels on the final image. Furthermore, there are geometry shaders, tessellation shaders, and compute shaders, each with distinct functionalities.
Overall, shaders are fundamental tools in the field of computer graphics as they empower developers to create stunning, realistic, and visually appealing graphics by manipulating the way light interacts with objects and surfaces in virtual environments.
He who or that which shades.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "shader" originated from the English language in the late 20th century. It is derived from the verb form of "shade", meaning to darken or change the appearance of something. In the context of computer graphics, a shader is a program that modifies the appearance of objects by specifying how light interacts with their surfaces. Therefore, the term "shader" refers to the program or code that shades or alters the visual aspects of objects in computer-generated images or videos.
