Editing Geometric primitive (section)

{{Short description|Basic shapes represented in vector graphics}}
[[File:beetle.svg|thumb|340px|[[Vector graphics]] consists of geometrical primitives.]]

In [[Vector graphics|vector]] [[computer graphics]], [[Computer-aided design|CAD systems]], and [[geographic information systems]], a '''geometric primitive''' (or '''prim''') is the simplest (i.e. 'atomic' or irreducible) [[geometric shape]] that the system can handle (draw, store). Sometimes the [[subroutine]]s that draw the corresponding objects are called "geometric primitives" as well. The most "primitive" primitives are [[point (geometry)|point]] and straight [[line segment]]s, which were all that early vector graphics systems had.

In [[constructive solid geometry]], primitives are simple [[geometry|geometric]] shapes such as a [[Cube (geometry)|cube]], [[cylinder (geometry)|cylinder]], [[sphere]], [[cone (geometry)|cone]], [[Pyramid (geometry)|pyramid]], [[torus]].

Modern [[2D computer graphics]] systems may operate with primitives which are [[Curve|curves]] (segments of straight lines, [[circle]]s and more complicated curves), as well as shapes (boxes, arbitrary polygons, circles).

A common set of two-dimensional primitives includes lines, points, and [[polygon]]s, although some people prefer to consider [[triangle]]s primitives, because every polygon can be constructed from triangles. All other graphic elements are built up from these primitives. In three dimensions, triangles or polygons positioned in three-dimensional space can be used as primitives to model more complex 3D forms. In some cases, curves (such as [[Bézier curve]]s, [[circle]]s, etc.) may be considered primitives; in other cases, curves are complex forms created from many straight, primitive shapes.