GenICam
lastmod 2026-03-27created 2026-03-272 edits
GenICam (abbreviated for Generic Interface for Cameras) is a generic programming interface for machine vision (industrial) cameras. The goal of the standard is to decouple industrial camera interfaces technology (such as GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, CoaXPress or Camera Link) from the user application programming interface (API). GenICam is administered by the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA). The work on the standard began in 2003 and the first module in GenICam, i.e., GenApi, was ratified in 2006 whereas the final module, i.e., GenTL was ratified in 2008.
About
The GenICam standard is an industry standard developed by the European Machine Vision Association (EMVA) that supports controlling machine vision cameras through a generic programming interface.
The GenICam standard provides a generic end-to-end configuration interface for GigE Vision, USB 3.0 Vision, Camera Link, IEEE 1394, and more.
GenICamTM description
Today's digital cameras deliver not only images but much more functionality along with them. Processing images, appending results to the image data stream, controlling external hardware, and performing real-time parts of the application are already becoming common tasks of machine vision cameras. As a result, camera programming interfaces are becoming more complex.
The goal of GenICamTM is to provide a generic programming interface for all kinds of cameras and devices. Whichever interface is chosen, such as GigE Vision, USB3 Vision, CoaXPress, Camera Link HS, Camera Link, or 1394 DCAM, the application programming interface (API) for the features implemented or used should always be the same.
The GenICamTM standard consists of several modules according to the main tasks to be solved.
GenApi: camera configuration
- SFNC(SFNC(Standard Features Naming Convention): Standardized names and types of camera device features
- Includes PFNC (Pixel Format Naming Convention)
The GenICamTM standard group also provides a GenICamTM reference implementation. The reference implementation, which is part of the standard, comes with a BSD-like license and can be used freely by members of the GenICamTM standard group.
How it works
- A camera that conforms to the GenICam standard comes with an XML file describing the camera's parameters, characteristics, and features.
- Machine vision software compatible with the GenICam standard converts the XML file into elements of the GenAPI application programming interface or graphical user interface.
- Through the machine vision software's application programming interface or graphical user interface, the user can easily use the camera's features (for example, exposure time).
For more details on GenICam, see the GenICam page.