###### (This is the documentation for SDL3, which is the current stable version. [SDL2](https://wiki.libsdl.org/SDL2/) was the previous version!)
# SDL_CreateGPUDevice

Creates a GPU context.

## Header File

Defined in [<SDL3/SDL_gpu.h>](https://github.com/libsdl-org/SDL/blob/main/include/SDL3/SDL_gpu.h)

## Syntax

```c
SDL_GPUDevice* SDL_CreateGPUDevice(
    SDL_GPUShaderFormat format_flags,
    bool debug_mode,
    const char *name);
```

## Function Parameters

|                                            |                  |                                                                       |
| ------------------------------------------ | ---------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| [SDL_GPUShaderFormat](SDL_GPUShaderFormat) | **format_flags** | a bitflag indicating which shader formats the app is able to provide. |
| bool                                       | **debug_mode**   | enable debug mode properties and validations.                         |
| const char *                               | **name**         | the preferred GPU driver, or NULL to let SDL pick the optimal driver. |

## Return Value

([SDL_GPUDevice](SDL_GPUDevice) *) Returns a GPU context on success or NULL
on failure; call [SDL_GetError](SDL_GetError)() for more information.

## Version

This function is available since SDL 3.1.3.

## See Also

- [SDL_GetGPUShaderFormats](SDL_GetGPUShaderFormats)
- [SDL_GetGPUDeviceDriver](SDL_GetGPUDeviceDriver)
- [SDL_DestroyGPUDevice](SDL_DestroyGPUDevice)
- [SDL_GPUSupportsShaderFormats](SDL_GPUSupportsShaderFormats)

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[CategoryAPI](CategoryAPI), [CategoryAPIFunction](CategoryAPIFunction), [CategoryGPU](CategoryGPU)