singlesurface

Singlesurface is a term used in several technical fields to refer to a surface that is singularly continuous or existing as a single surface, rather than a layered or multi-component interface. Because the term is not standardized, its precise meaning depends on the discipline.

In materials science and surface science, singlesurface typically describes an exposed boundary of a material that is not interleaved with separate layers or phases. It is used to contrast with multilayer films, oxide stacks, or composite interfaces where multiple distinct surfaces meet within a structure.

In computer graphics and geometric modeling, singlesurface often denotes a model represented by one connected surface, such as a single NURBS surface or a single closed mesh, as opposed to a model built from several disconnected shells. This usage matters for rendering, texture mapping, and simulation, because a single surface can simplify some algorithms while complicating others, such as handling holes or self-intersections.

In mathematics, the phrase appears informally to describe a two-dimensional manifold that is connected and does not decompose into multiple components. The formal terms are a connected surface or a connected two-dimensional manifold, depending on the context.

See also: surface, manifold, single-layer, multilayer.