rendering

Rendering in computer science is the process of generating an image from a 2D or 3D model using computer programs. This is a core component of computer graphics, which involves creating images for various media, from printed materials and animations to video games and scientific visualizations.

Early systems used vector graphics, constructing images from line segments. Later, raster graphics, based on television technology, became dominant, representing images as grids of pixels.

For realistic 3D images, techniques like ray tracing simulate how light interacts with surfaces, calculating the paths of light rays. Other methods, such as radiosity, model light as energy to recreate more complex lighting effects. Advanced techniques, including machine learning, further enhance rendering efficiency and quality, especially for real-time applications like video games.