Lerping

Lerping, short for linear interpolation, is a fundamental technique used in computer graphics, game development, animation, and various other fields to smoothly transition between two values over time. At its core, lerping calculates an intermediate value on a straight line between a starting value and an ending value. The position along this line is determined by a third parameter, often called the interpolation factor or alpha, which typically ranges from 0 to 1.

When the alpha value is 0, the lerp function returns the starting value. When the alpha value is 1, it returns the ending value. For any alpha value between 0 and 1, the function returns a value proportionally between the start and end. For example, an alpha of 0.5 would return the midpoint between the two values.

The formula for lerping is generally expressed as: result = start + (end - start) * alpha. This formula can be applied to various data types, including numbers, colors, vectors, and positions. By gradually increasing or decreasing the alpha value over a series of frames or time steps, developers can create smooth animations, fade effects, camera movements, and other visual transitions. Lerping is a simple yet powerful tool that forms the basis for many more complex animation and interpolation techniques.

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