The VK_KHR_variable_pointers extension allows implementations to indicate their level of support for the SPV_KHR_variable_pointers SPIR-V extension. The SPIR-V extension allows shader modules to use invocation-private pointers into uniform and/or storage buffers, where the pointer values can be dynamic and non-uniform.

The SPV_KHR_variable_pointers extension introduces two capabilities. The first, VariablePointersStorageBuffer, must be supported by all implementations of this extension. The second, VariablePointers, is optional.

Promotion to Vulkan 1.1

All functionality in this extension is included in core Vulkan 1.1, with the KHR suffix omitted, however support for the variablePointersStorageBuffer feature is made optional. The original type, enum and command names are still available as aliases of the core functionality.

VK_KHR_variable_pointers

Name String

VK_KHR_variable_pointers

Extension Type

Device extension

Registered Extension Number

121

Revision

1

Extension and Version Dependencies

VK_KHR_get_physical_device_properties2 and VK_KHR_storage_buffer_storage_class

Deprecation state

• Promoted to Vulkan 1.1

Contact

• Jesse Hall critsec

Other Extension Metadata

Last Modified Date

2017-09-05

IP Status

No known IP claims.

Interactions and External Dependencies

• This extension requires SPV_KHR_variable_pointers
• Promoted to Vulkan 1.1 Core

Contributors

• John Kessenich, Google
• Neil Henning, Codeplay
• David Neto, Google
• Daniel Koch, Nvidia
• Graeme Leese, Broadcom
• Weifeng Zhang, Qualcomm
• Stephen Clarke, Imagination Technologies
• Faith Ekstrand, Intel
• Jesse Hall, Google