Polygon (computer graphics)

{{Short description|Fundamental unit of geometry used in 3D computer graphics and modeling}}

{{one source|date=May 2023}}

Polygons are used in computer graphics to compose images that are three-dimensional in appearance,{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/star-foxs-history-of-innovation-for-better-or-worse |title=Star Fox's History of Innovation, For Better or Worse |last=Bailey |first=Kat |date=Apr 18, 2016 |website=usgamer |publisher= |access-date=2022-07-17 |quote=Developed in part by Argonaut Software, a studio that included a young Dylan Cuthbert, it pushed the Super Nintendo to the absolute limits. It looks dated now, but at the time Star Fox's polygonal graphics were sleek and cool, and well beyond anything available on the competition |archive-date=2022-10-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022152538/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/star-foxs-history-of-innovation-for-better-or-worse |url-status=dead }} and are one of the most popular geometric building blocks in computer graphics.{{Cite book |last=Heckbert |first=Paul S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CCqzMm_-WucC&q=computer+graphics+polygon |title=Graphics Gems IV |date=1994 |publisher=Morgan Kaufmann |isbn=978-0-12-336155-4 |editor-last=Heckbert |editor-first=Paul S. |volume=4 |page=1 |language=en |chapter=Polygons and Polyhedra }} Polygons are built up of vertices, and are typically used as triangles.

A model's polygons can be rendered and seen simply in a wire frame model, where the outlines of the polygons are seen, as opposed to having them be shaded. This is the reason for a polygon stage in computer animation. The polygon count refers to the number of polygons being rendered per frame.

Beginning with the fifth generation of video game consoles, the use of polygons became more common, and with each succeeding generation, polygonal models became increasingly complex.