The Android platform includes an Android-specific implementation of the Vulkan API specification from the Khronos Group. Vulkan is a low-overhead, cross-platform API for high-performance, 3D graphics. It provides tools for creating high-quality, real-time graphics in applications. Vulkan also provides advantages such as reducing CPU overhead and providing support for the SPIR-V Binary Intermediate language.

This section begins with information on how to get started using Vulkan in your Android app. Next, it provides useful information that you should know about Vulkan design guidelines on the Android platform. From there, it explains how to use Vulkan's shader compilers. Last, it teaches you how to use validation layers to help assure stability in apps using Vulkan.

For more general information about this cross-platform API specification, see Khronos's Vulkan Overview. You can also keep up with the latest Vulkan-related developments at the Vulkan news page.