Polygon mesh

In <a href="/facts/3D_computer_graphics/zlWW6eaF">3D computer graphics</a> and <a href="/facts/Solid_modeling/12J69aud">solid modeling</a>, a polygon mesh is a collection of vertices, edges and faces that defines the shape of a <a href="/facts/Polyhedron/UC0p9FTF">polyhedral</a> object's <a href="/facts/Surface/0XA8ce89">surface</a>. It simplifies <a href="/facts/Rendering_(computer_graphics)/YYxfnmAq">rendering</a>, as in a <a href="/facts/Wire-frame_model/Jly7tJrk">wire-frame model</a>. The <a href="/facts/Face_(geometry)/T2E6BTU4">faces</a> usually consist of <a href="/facts/Triangles/cRXUwsMn">triangles</a> (<a href="/facts/Triangle_mesh/EphfTInp">triangle mesh</a>), <a href="/facts/Quadrilaterals/QCGqrkp2">quadrilaterals</a> (quads), or other simple <a href="/facts/Convex_polygon/7x35w610">convex polygons</a> (<a href="/facts/N-gons/yAq7RjPz">n-gons</a>). A polygonal mesh may also be more generally composed of <a href="/facts/Concave_polygon/opSnBwgh">concave polygons</a>, or even <a href="/facts/Polygon_with_holes/9wHrCgFa">polygons with holes</a>.
The study of <a href="/facts/Polygon_(computer_graphics)/rtDK36bC">polygon</a> meshes is a large sub-field of <a href="/facts/Computer_graphics/lapBE8wv">computer graphics</a> (specifically 3D computer graphics) and <a href="/facts/Geometric_modeling/SGyQGku9">geometric modeling</a>. Different representations of polygon meshes are used for different applications and goals. The variety of operations performed on meshes includes <a href="/facts/Boolean_logic/VkCToAmg">Boolean logic</a> (<a href="/facts/Constructive_solid_geometry/Dcs2fzyU">Constructive solid geometry</a>), <a href="/facts/Subdivision_surfaces/9AKT4pfM">smoothing</a>, and <a href="/facts/Level_of_detail_(computer_graphics)/tML95IT6">simplification</a>. Algorithms also exist for <a href="/facts/Ray_tracing_(graphics)/n6qpap2q">ray tracing</a>, <a href="/facts/Collision_detection/kXkE9WXv">collision detection</a>, and <a href="/facts/Rigid-body_dynamics/ajbkweF2">rigid-body dynamics</a> with polygon meshes. If the mesh's edges are rendered instead of the faces, then the model becomes a <a href="/facts/Wire-frame_model/Jly7tJrk">wireframe model</a>.
Several methods exist for <a href="/facts/Mesh_generation/4YArjFyH">mesh generation</a>, including the <a href="/facts/Marching_cubes/mYbQyPYD">marching cubes</a> algorithm.
<a href="/facts/Volume_mesh/4Y171FIK">Volumetric meshes</a> are distinct from polygon meshes in that they explicitly represent both the surface and interior region of a structure, while polygon meshes only explicitly represent the surface (the volume is implicit).

Polygon mesh open-in-new

Polygon mesh