Grasshopper

Grasshopper commonly refers to herbivorous insects in the suborder Caelifera, particularly the family Acrididae. They are typically medium-sized with strong hind legs adapted for jumping and relatively short antennae. They inhabit grasslands, savannas, and agricultural fields worldwide. Most feed on grasses and herbaceous plants, and some crop species can suffer damage when populations rise. Grasshoppers undergo incomplete metamorphosis, developing from an egg through several molts from nymph to winged or wingless adults. Females lay eggs in soil or plant tissue; nymphs resemble small adults. In favorable conditions, populations can increase rapidly, and some species form large swarms known as locust swarms that migrate over long distances and threaten crops. In ecosystems, they serve as herbivores and as prey for birds and other animals.

Grasshopper (software) is a visual programming language and environment for parametric design that runs inside the Rhino 3D application. It enables algorithmic modeling by connecting modular components that perform operations on geometry, data, or both. Users create definitions that control shapes, forms, and analyses, with real-time updates as parameters change. Grasshopper supports numerous plugins for simulation, optimization, and advanced geometry tools, expanding its capabilities for architecture, product design, and engineering workflows. It has been widely adopted as a platform for exploration, rapid prototyping, and complex form generation.

Because the term grasshopper can refer to both organisms and software, context usually clarifies the intended meaning. Both uses have established roles in their respective fields, one in biology and agriculture, the other in digital design and computational geometry.