Reads raw vertex data (Position, Normals, UVs, Color) from memory.
For the first time, shaders could sample textures directly in the vertex stage. This allowed for advanced effects like displacement mapping , where heightmaps deform mesh geometry in real-time. Vertex Shaders Version 3
Vertex Shader Model 3.0 (vs_3_0), introduced with DirectX 9.0c, was a major milestone in graphics programming. It transitioned vertex shaders from basic coordinate transformers into high-performance, programmable processors capable of complex logic and texture sampling. Reads raw vertex data (Position, Normals, UVs, Color)
A vertex shader's primary job is to process each vertex of a 3D mesh before it is rasterized into pixels: Reads raw vertex data (Position