diff --git a/include/graphics/vao.hpp b/include/graphics/vao.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..477991c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/include/graphics/vao.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+/**
+	This file is a part of our_dick
+	Copyright (C) 2020 rexy712
+
+	This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+	it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+	the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+	(at your option) any later version.
+
+	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+	MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+	GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+	You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+	along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+#ifndef OUR_DICK_GRAPHICS_VAO_HPP
+#define OUR_DICK_GRAPHICS_VAO_HPP
+
+#include "gl_include.hpp"
+#include "math/math.hpp"
+
+namespace graphics{
+	using namespace math;
+
+	class vertex_attribute;
+
+	//class representing a vertex array object
+	class vao
+	{
+	private:
+		GLuint m_buffer; //handle to the vertex array
+
+	public:
+		//create a default initialized opengl vao
+		vao();
+		vao(const vao&) = delete;
+		vao(vao&&);
+		~vao();
+
+		vao& operator=(const vao&) = delete;
+		vao& operator=(vao&&);
+
+		//Get access to a generic vertex attribute within this vao
+		vertex_attribute get_attribute(int index);
+
+		//bind this vao for use with rendering program
+		void bind();
+		//unbind this vao and rebind state machine to 0
+		void unbind();
+	};
+
+	//class representing a generic vertex attribute in a vao
+	class vertex_attribute
+	{
+	private:
+		GLuint m_vao; //handle to vertex array object
+		int m_index;  //index of this attribute
+	public:
+		constexpr vertex_attribute(GLuint vao, int index):
+			m_vao(vao),
+			m_index(index){}
+		constexpr vertex_attribute(const vertex_attribute&) = default;
+		constexpr vertex_attribute(vertex_attribute&&) = default;
+		~vertex_attribute() = default;
+
+		constexpr vertex_attribute& operator=(const vertex_attribute&) = default;
+		constexpr vertex_attribute& operator=(vertex_attribute&&) = default;
+
+		//enable use as an array attribute (most likely what is desired)
+		void enable_array_mode();
+		//disable use as an array attribute. used for static data in attributes during rendering
+		void disable_array_mode();
+
+		//setters for use in array mode. Same arguments as glVertexAttribPointer but these take arguments
+		//as object counts rather than bytes. a valid vbo must be bound to buffers::array_buffer before these are called.
+		void set_float_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_double_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_byte_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_ubyte_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_short_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_ushort_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_int_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+		void set_uint_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset);
+
+		//setters for use in non array mode
+		void set(GLfloat);
+		void set(GLshort);
+		void set(GLdouble);
+		void set(GLint);
+		void set(GLuint);
+		void set(GLfloat, GLfloat);
+		void set(GLshort, GLshort);
+		void set(GLdouble, GLdouble);
+		void set(GLint, GLint);
+		void set(GLuint, GLuint);
+		void set(GLfloat, GLfloat, GLfloat);
+		void set(GLshort, GLshort, GLshort);
+		void set(GLdouble, GLdouble, GLdouble);
+		void set(GLint, GLint, GLint);
+		void set(GLuint, GLuint, GLuint);
+		void set(GLfloat, GLfloat, GLfloat, GLfloat);
+		void set(GLshort, GLshort, GLshort, GLshort);
+		void set(GLdouble, GLdouble, GLdouble, GLdouble);
+		void set(GLint, GLint, GLint, GLint);
+		void set(GLuint, GLuint, GLuint, GLuint);
+		void set(const vec2<GLfloat>&);
+		void set(const vec2<GLshort>&);
+		void set(const vec2<GLdouble>&);
+		void set(const vec2<GLint>&);
+		void set(const vec2<GLuint>&);
+		void set(const vec3<GLfloat>&);
+		void set(const vec3<GLshort>&);
+		void set(const vec3<GLdouble>&);
+		void set(const vec3<GLint>&);
+		void set(const vec3<GLuint>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLfloat>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLshort>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLdouble>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLint>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLuint>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLbyte>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLubyte>&);
+		void set(const vec4<GLushort>&);
+	};
+
+}
+
+#endif
diff --git a/src/graphics/vao.cpp b/src/graphics/vao.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..31407d5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/graphics/vao.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,242 @@
+/**
+	This file is a part of our_dick
+	Copyright (C) 2020 rexy712
+
+	This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+	it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+	the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+	(at your option) any later version.
+
+	This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+	but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+	MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+	GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+
+	You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+	along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+*/
+
+#include "graphics/vao.hpp"
+#include <utility> //exchange, swap
+
+namespace graphics{
+
+	void vertex_attribute::enable_array_mode(){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glEnableVertexAttribArray(m_index);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::disable_array_mode(){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glEnableVertexAttribArray(m_index);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_float_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_FLOAT, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLfloat) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLfloat) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_double_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_DOUBLE, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLdouble) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLdouble) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_byte_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_BYTE, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLbyte) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLbyte) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_ubyte_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLubyte) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLubyte) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_short_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_SHORT, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLshort) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLshort) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_ushort_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLushort) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLushort) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_int_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_INT, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLint) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLint) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set_uint_pointer(GLint size, GLsizei stride, GLsizei offset){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribPointer(m_index, size, GL_UNSIGNED_INT, GL_FALSE, sizeof(GLuint) * stride, (void*)(sizeof(GLuint) * offset));
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLfloat x){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib1f(m_index, x);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLshort x){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib1s(m_index, x);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLdouble x){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib1d(m_index, x);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLint x){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI1i(m_index, x);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLuint x){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI1ui(m_index, x);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLfloat x, GLfloat y){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib2f(m_index, x, y);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLshort x, GLshort y){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib2s(m_index, x, y);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLdouble x, GLdouble y){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib2d(m_index, x, y);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLint x, GLint y){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI2i(m_index, x, y);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLuint x, GLuint y){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI2ui(m_index, x, y);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLfloat x, GLfloat y, GLfloat z){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib3f(m_index, x, y, z);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLshort x, GLshort y, GLshort z){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib3s(m_index, x, y, z);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLdouble x, GLdouble y, GLdouble z){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib3d(m_index, x, y, z);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLint x, GLint y, GLint z){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI3i(m_index, x, y, z);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLuint x, GLuint y, GLuint z){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI3ui(m_index, x, y, z);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLfloat x, GLfloat y, GLfloat z, GLfloat w){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4f(m_index, x, y, z, w);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLshort x, GLshort y, GLshort z, GLshort w){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4s(m_index, x, y, z, w);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLdouble x, GLdouble y, GLdouble z, GLdouble w){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4d(m_index, x, y, z, w);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLint x, GLint y, GLint z, GLint w){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI4i(m_index, x, y, z, w);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(GLuint x, GLuint y, GLuint z, GLuint w){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI4ui(m_index, x, y, z, w);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec2<GLfloat>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib2fv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec2<GLshort>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib2sv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec2<GLdouble>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib2dv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec2<GLint>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI2iv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec2<GLuint>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI2uiv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec3<GLfloat>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib3fv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec3<GLshort>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib3sv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec3<GLdouble>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib3dv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec3<GLint>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI3iv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec3<GLuint>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttribI3uiv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLfloat>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4fv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLshort>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4sv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLdouble>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4dv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLint>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4iv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLuint>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4uiv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLbyte>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4bv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLubyte>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4ubv(m_index, v);
+	}
+	void vertex_attribute::set(const vec4<GLushort>& v){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_vao);
+		glVertexAttrib4usv(m_index, v);
+	}
+
+
+	vao::vao(){
+		glGenVertexArrays(1, &m_buffer);
+	}
+	vao::vao(vao&& v):
+		m_buffer(std::exchange(v.m_buffer, 0)){}
+	vao::~vao(){
+		if(m_buffer)
+			glDeleteVertexArrays(1, &m_buffer);
+	}
+	vao& vao::operator=(vao&& v){
+		std::swap(m_buffer, v.m_buffer);
+		return *this;
+	}
+	vertex_attribute vao::get_attribute(int index){
+		return vertex_attribute(m_buffer, index);
+	}
+	void vao::bind(){
+		glBindVertexArray(m_buffer);
+	}
+	void vao::unbind(){
+		glBindVertexArray(0);
+	}
+
+
+}