System and method for implementing graphics processing unit shader programs using snippets

Shader programs that execute on graphics processing units (GPUs), such as vertex and pixel shaders may be generated by defining individual shader snippets. Each snippet may represent and/or specifies a particular shader operation. In one embodiment, each snippet may indicate a particular vertex shader operation, a particular pixel (or fragment) shader operation, or both. Various combinations of these snippets may then be combined to create more complex shader programs. A shader snippet framework may be configured to receive information specifying individual snippets, as well as the combinations of snippets representing various shader programs. The framework may define such shader programs using only the identifiers for the various snippets and thus a shader program, as described herein, may not include any actual code, but instead may refer to an ordered list of snippets. At runtime, the snippets are then instantiated and executed to execute the shader program.