multiarc

A multiarc is a geometric object formed by joining two or more arc segments into a single curve. The constituent arcs are typically circular, but may be of different types, and they may share endpoints or meet at junctions to form a piecewise curve that is open or closed.

In a formal representation, a multiarc is stored as an ordered sequence of arc elements. Each element is defined by its geometric parameters (for a circular arc: center, radius, start angle, end angle). Joints indicate how two consecutive arcs are connected, allowing various levels of continuity such as C0 (position), C1 (tangent), or higher.

The overall shape depends on the arrangement and the continuity at joints. Multiarcs can approximate smooth curves by using many short arcs, or encode exact shapes when the endpoints and radii are chosen to meet precision requirements. They can be open chains or closed loops, and the union of arcs can be disjoint or intersecting depending on the design.

Applications appear in vector graphics, font design, CAD, and digital animation, where a complex curve is conveniently described as a set of arc segments. They are familiar as building blocks for glyph outlines and for path planning in robotics, where piecewise circular paths are easier to compute than a single high-order curve.