Curve - Verge3D User Manual - Soft8Soft
Description: Learn how to use Curve in your interactive 3D apps made with Verge3D

# Curve

An abstract base class for creating a Curve object that contains methods for interpolation. For an array of Curves see CurvePath.

## Constructor

### Curve()

This constructor creates a new Curve.

## Properties

### # .arcLengthDivisions : Integer

This value determines the amount of divisions when calculating the cumulative segment lengths of a curve via .getLengths. To ensure precision when using methods like .getSpacedPoints, it is recommended to increase .arcLengthDivisions if the curve is very large. Default is `200`.

## Methods

### # .getPoint(t : Float, optionalTarget : Vector2 | Vector3) → Vector

- t — a position on the curve. Must be in the range `[0, 1]`.
- optionalTarget — (optional) if specified, the result will be copied into this vector, otherwise a new vector will be created.

Returns a vector for a given position on the curve.

### # .getPointAt(u : Float, optionalTarget : Vector2 | Vector3) → Vector

- u — a position on the curve according to the arc length. Must be in the range `[0, 1]`.
- optionalTarget — (optional) if specified, the result will be copied into this vector, otherwise a new vector will be created.

Returns a vector for a given position on the curve according to the arc length.

### # .getPoints(divisions : Integer) → Array

divisions — number of pieces to divide the curve into. Default is `5`.

Returns a set of divisions + 1 points using getPoint(t).

### # .getSpacedPoints(divisions : Integer) → Array

divisions — number of pieces to divide the curve into. Default is `5`.

Returns a set of divisions + 1 equi-spaced points using getPointAt(u).

### # .getLength() → Float

Get total curve arc length.

### # .getLengths(divisions : Integer) → Array

Get list of cumulative segment lengths.

### # .updateArcLengths()

Update the cumlative segment distance cache. The method must be called every time curve parameters are changed. If an updated curve is part of a composed curve like CurvePath, .updateArcLengths() must be called on the composed curve, too.

### # .getUtoTmapping(u : Float, distance : Float) → Float

Given `u` in the range `[0, 1]`, returns `t` also in the range `[0, 1]`. `u` and `t` can then be used to give you points which are equidistant from the ends of the curve, using .getPoint.

### # .getTangent(t : Float, optionalTarget : Vector2 | Vector3) → Vector

- t — a position on the curve. Must be in the range `[0, 1]`.
- optionalTarget — (optional) if specified, the result will be copied into this vector, otherwise a new vector will be created.

Returns a unit vector tangent at `t`. If the derived curve does not implement its tangent derivation, two points a small delta apart will be used to find its gradient which seems to give a reasonable approximation.

### # .getTangentAt(u : Float, optionalTarget : Vector2 | Vector3) → Vector

- u — a position on the curve according to the arc length. Must be in the range `[0, 1]`.
- optionalTarget — (optional) if specified, the result will be copied into this vector, otherwise a new vector will be created.

Returns tangent at a point which is equidistant to the ends of the curve from the point given in .getTangent.

### # .computeFrenetFrames(segments : Integer, closed : Boolean) → Object

Generates the Frenet Frames. Requires a curve definition in 3D space. Used in geometries like TubeGeometry or ExtrudeGeometry.

### # .clone() → Curve

Creates a clone of this instance.

### # .copy(source : Curve) → this

Copies another Curve object to this instance.

## Source

For more info on how to obtain the source code of this module see this page.