Scenegraphs

A scenegraph is a data structure used in computer graphics to represent a scene. It organizes graphical objects, their properties, and their relationships in a tree-like structure. Each node in the scenegraph represents an element of the scene, such as a geometric object, a light source, a camera, or a transformation. The root of the tree typically represents the entire scene.

Nodes in a scenegraph can have attributes that define their appearance, such as color, texture, and material properties. Transformations, such as translation, rotation, and scaling, are also commonly represented as nodes. These transformations can be applied hierarchically, meaning that transformations applied to a parent node affect all its child nodes. This hierarchical organization allows for efficient manipulation and rendering of complex scenes.

When rendering a scene represented by a scenegraph, the graphics system traverses the tree. It applies the transformations and attributes of each node to render the corresponding graphical element. This traversal allows for techniques like culling, where parts of the scene that are not visible are not rendered, improving performance. Scenegraphs are widely used in applications like video games, simulations, and 3D modeling software. They provide a flexible and organized way to manage and display complex visual information.