Polygon (computer graphics)

Polygons are used in computer graphics to compose images that are three-dimensional in appearance. Polygons are built up of vertices, and are typically used as triangles.

A model's polygons can be rendered and seen simply in a wire frame model, where the outlines of the polygons are seen, as opposed to having them be shaded. This is the reason for a polygon stage in computer animation. The polygon count refers to the number of polygons being rendered per frame.

Beginning with the fifth generation of video game consoles, the use of polygons became more common, and with each succeeding generation, polygonal models became increasingly complex.