triangelformat

Triangelformat, abbreviated TF, is a data interchange format designed for representing triangular meshes and triangulated surfaces in two or three dimensions. It is used to encode geometry and topology, including vertex coordinates, triangle connectivity, and optional attributes such as normals, colors, or texture coordinates.

Data model:

A TF model consists of a list of vertices, a list of triangles (three indices per triangle), and an optional set of per-vertex or per-face attributes. Extensions may include edge data, face normals, or metadata about coordinate systems, units, and provenance. The format aims to be simple yet extensible to accommodate common mesh representations used in graphics, simulation, and scientific computing.

File structure:

TF supports both a human-readable text variant and a compact binary variant. A typical text TF file begins with a header that states the counts of vertices and triangles, followed by vertex lines, then triangle definitions. Optional sections may hold attribute data and metadata blocks, which can describe coordinate systems, scaling factors, or version information.

Features and usage:

The format emphasizes portability and straightforward parsing, enabling easy integration into graphics pipelines, mesh processing tools, and simulation workflows. It supports both 2D planar and 3D surface meshes and can be extended with per-vertex attributes, per-triangle attributes, or adjacency information to facilitate queries about neighboring elements.

Limitations and ecosystem:

Compared with more established formats such as OBJ, STL, PLY, or OFF, TF has a smaller ecosystem and tooling footprint. It is primarily used in research contexts or in projects that require a lightweight, easily parsed mesh representation, rather than broad industry adoption.

See also:

OBJ format, STL, PLY, OFF, mesh processing libraries, and related geometric data formats.