fromEuler

FromEuler is a common function name used in software libraries to construct a rotation representation from Euler angles. In practice, fromEuler refers to a method or constructor that takes three angles, typically representing rotations about specified axes, and returns a rotation in a usable form such as a rotation matrix or a quaternion. The exact behavior of fromEuler depends on the library and the chosen convention, but it is generally used to convert a set of orientation angles into a form that can be integrated into broader 3D transformations or animation pipelines.

Inputs and outputs vary by implementation. A fromEuler function usually requires three angles plus a convention parameter that specifies the axis order (for example, roll-pitch-yaw or X-Y-Z, sometimes noted as XYZ or ZYX) and whether the angles are intrinsic or extrinsic. It may also indicate the unit of the angles (radians or degrees). The typical outputs are either a 3x3 rotation matrix or a quaternion (often given as x, y, z, w). Some libraries provide variants that convert to one representation or the other, or offer both through a single interface with a target type option.

Ambiguities arise from Euler conventions. Different axis orders, intrinsic versus extrinsic rotations, and unit choices can produce different orientations from the same three angles. Euler-based representations are also prone to gimbal lock, which is a limitation when interpolating orientations.

Applications include 3D graphics, robotics, and computer vision, where orientations are often specified in Euler angles for human readability or data interchange and then converted to a rotation matrix or quaternion for computation, rendering, or control. The exact signature and behavior of fromEuler should be verified in the specific library’s documentation.