DirectX Raytracing, DXR for short, is not a standalone version of DirectX, but a key technology component of DirectX 12. It is a set of commands that allows graphics cards to accelerate ray tracing calculations in hardware. This rendering method mimics the actual physical behavior of light; it simulates the path of individual light rays through a scene and tracks how they bounce off surfaces, refract in transparent materials, and create shadows. The result is unparalleled realistic global illumination, accurate real-time reflections and soft, natural-looking shadows that were previously very difficult to achieve.