1Dfigur

1Dfigur is a term used in data visualization and computational geometry to denote a class of representations that describe a figure in one dimension. The core idea is to encode shape or trajectory along a single axis rather than in two or three dimensions.

In a typical 1Dfigur, a figure is stored as an ordered sequence of markers along the axis, with optional attributes such as segment type, slope, length, and stylistic properties. Coordinates may be expressed as deltas to enhance compression, and more complex features can be represented with symbolic descriptors for recurring patterns.

The concept emerged in contexts where bandwidth, memory, or rendering power is constrained, such as telemetry displays, minimalist vector interfaces, or experimental compression schemes. It relates to polyline representations, time-series encoding, and one-dimensional sketches used to summarize higher-dimensional phenomena.

Applications include efficient rendering of line-based data, timeline visualizations, and compact models of linear processes. Limitations include limited expressiveness for two- or three-dimensional relations, potential ambiguity in interpreting depth or curvature, and the need for downstream interpretation to recover higher-dimensional context.

See also: polyline, time series, vector graphics, data compression. While not widely standardized, 1Dfigur serves as a useful mental model for discussing extreme dimensional reduction in figures.