renderingMode

Rendering mode is a term used in computer graphics and user interface toolkits to describe how a graphic asset is drawn. It determines which algorithms and processing steps are applied to render an image, primitive, or object, including color application, shading, texturing, and blending. Rendering modes influence visual outcomes such as whether geometry is filled versus outlined, how surfaces are shaded, and how colors are blended with the background or other layers.

In 3D rendering, a mode can refer to how primitives are rasterized (for example, filled, line, or point polygons) and which shading model is used (flat versus smooth shading). In 2D pipelines, rendering mode can control whether anti-aliasing, compositing, or texture mapping are applied. Some frameworks expose renderingMode as a single property that selects among several built-in behaviors.

Platform examples include iOS and web technologies. In iOS, the UIImageRenderingMode enum defines modes such as automatic, alwaysOriginal, and alwaysTemplate, which affect how a user interface control applies tint colors to an image. In web development, the CSS image-rendering property accepts values like auto, crisp-edges, and pixelated to influence how scaled images are interpolated during rendering.

Understanding the rendering mode requires consulting the documentation of the specific API, as the exact set of modes and their effects vary by platform. Rendering mode is generally used to balance visual style, performance, and accessibility considerations, such as ensuring sufficient contrast and consistent iconography across a UI.