# About OVITO

OVITO (Open Visualization Tool) is a scientific data visualization and analysis software designed for molecular and particle-based simulation models. It is widely used in computational materials science, engineering, physics, and chemistry. The software has been cited in over 18,000 research publications.

A cross-platform 3D visualization tool

OVITO is a 3D graphics desktop application available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It is developed and distributed by OVITO GmbH, a German independent software vendor founded by OVITO’s original author, Dr. Alexander Stukowski.

In addition to the main application, the OVITO ecosystem includes the OVITO Python module, a standalone scripting framework that enables advanced post-processing and data analysis of simulation outputs.

Origins and evolution

First released in 2009, OVITO originated as part of a Ph.D. project at the Materials Science Department of Technische Universität Darmstadt. For years, it remained an academic open-source project, developed voluntarily by a single researcher. Despite its increasing adoption in the scientific community, sustaining long-term development without sufficient funding was a challenge.

A turning point came in 2020, when OVITO GmbH was founded. The company’s mission is to ensure the continued development, professional maintenance, and dedicated user support through license fees, securing OVITO’s future as a reliable scientific tool.

For more information about OVITO, refer to this user manual or visit the official website, www.ovito.org.