What material is MDX?
MDX is not a material. It is best known as a 3D model file format used by MikuMikuDance (MMD), the popular Japanese animation software for anime-style characters. The acronym also appears in other tech contexts, notably as a query language for OLAP data. This article explains what MDX is, where it comes from, and how it is used today.
MDX in 3D modeling
MDX is a legacy model data format associated with the MikuMikuDance ecosystem, used to store essential information about a character model.
Here are the core characteristics of MDX as a 3D model format:
- Stores geometry data including vertices, faces, normals, and texture coordinates, along with material references.
- Encodes rigging information such as bones and skinning weights to drive character deformation and animation.
- May include morph targets (expressions), texture references, and supporting animation cues used by MMD workflows.
- Historically used alongside PMD (Polygon Model Data) and can be part of older model libraries; modern workflows more commonly use PMX.
- Support in tools varies; many MMD editors and viewers still handle MDX, but compatibility can be limited compared with newer formats.
In practice, MDX has largely been superseded by newer formats in the MMD ecosystem, such as PMX, which offer expanded feature sets and greater compatibility. However, MDX remains part of the historical and retro-model workflows and can appear in legacy model packs and converters.
MDX in other contexts
Beyond 3D modeling, MDX is widely recognized for a different purpose in data analytics and business intelligence.
Additional meanings of MDX in tech contexts include the following:
- MultiDimensional Expressions (MDX), a query language for OLAP cubes used to query multidimensional data stores in tools like Microsoft SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS) and SAP BW.
- MDX as a file extension in niche or older software environments, where different applications used their own proprietary model formats; these uses are much less common today.
In practical terms, MDX as a data query language remains active in business intelligence workflows, while MDX as a model format is mostly of interest to enthusiasts working with retro MMD models or specific converter pipelines.
Summary
MDX is not a material; it is an acronym with several common meanings. In 3D modeling, MDX refers to a legacy MikuMikuDance model file format that encapsulates mesh geometry, rigging, and texture references, and it sits alongside other MMD formats like PMD and PMX. In data analytics, MDX stands for MultiDimensional Expressions, a widely used query language for OLAP databases. If your query is about building materials, MDX is not a standard material name—you’re more likely looking for MDF or related board products. Understanding the context will determine which MDX meaning applies.
