Vulkan
A standard that lets software use graphics chips. Support for a model or task still depends on the program and the chip.
The fuller definition
Vulkan is a cross-vendor graphics and compute interface supported by NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel cards. Local AI engines use it to run models on graphics cards that lack another supported route.
- Card
Any vendor
- Vulkan
Common interface
- Engine
Runs on the GPU
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
An AMD card without ROCm support on Windows can still run models through llama.cpp's Vulkan build.
The distinction that matters
Vulkan works on more hardware than CUDA or ROCm; the vendor-specific route is sometimes faster.
Related terms
Where it is taught
APIs and JSON: connect a model to a small programSource and further reading
MDN · Web technology glossaryThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.