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Why do vector graphics use less memory than raster graphics?
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computer graphics
The Utah Teapot, a standard graphics image used to benchmark computer systems.
Vector graphics are more memory-efficient than raster graphics because of how they represent visual information.
- Mathematical Definition: Vector graphics construct images using mathematical formulas. For example, a line segment is specified simply by the coordinates of its endpoints, and curves can be described by cubic equations, such as those used for Bezier curves.123
- Raster Requirements: In contrast, raster graphics represent images as bitmaps, which are grids of pixels. Each pixel requires one or more bits of memory to store color information. As image resolution or color depth increases, the memory required for a bitmap grows significantly, often reaching several megabytes for a single full-screen image.12
Because vector graphics store only the parameters needed to define shapes rather than the state of every individual pixel in a grid, they require substantially less memory to store and process.23