Stereolithography File (.stl)
STL, short for Stereolithography, is a widely used file format in the realm of 3D printing and computer-aided design (CAD). Introduced by 3D Systems in 1987, it represents the surfaces of a 3D object through a collection of triangles, facilitating precise and efficient model creation. Utilized across various industries such as engineering, manufacturing, and healthcare, STL files are critical for prototyping and producing complex geometries. Their simplicity and compatibility with numerous software applications have cemented STL's importance in the digital fabrication landscape.