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Line drawing algorithm

A line drawing algorithm is a graphical algorithm for approximating a line segment on discrete graphical media. On discrete media, such as pixel-based displays and printers, line drawing requires such an approximation (in nontrivial cases).

On continuous media, by contrast, no algorithm is necessary to draw a line. For example, oscilloscopes use natural phenomena to draw lines and curves.

A naïve line-drawing algorithm

``` ```

``dx = x2 - x1``
``` dy = y2 - y1 for x from x1 to x2 { y = y1 + (dy) * (x - x1)/(dx) plot(x, y) } ``` It is assumed here that the points have already been ordered so that $x_2 > x_1$. This algorithm works just fine when $dx >= dy$, but it is quite slow on a digital computer, as it requires floating-point calculations. If $dx < dy$, the line becomes quite sparse, and in the limiting case of $dx = 0$, only a single point is plotted!

List of line drawing algorithms

The following is a partial list of line drawing algorithms:

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