Z-BUffer ALgorithm

 Z-Buffer Algorithm in simple terms for a beginner:

The Z-Buffer Algorithm, also known as the Depth Buffer Algorithm, is a method used in computer graphics to handle hidden surfaces. It helps determine which objects or parts of objects should be visible on the screen based on their depth from the viewer's perspective.

Imagine you have a scene with multiple objects in it, and you want to display it on a computer screen. The Z-Buffer Algorithm works like this:

1. Imagine the computer screen as a grid of tiny squares called pixels.

2. For each pixel on the screen, we keep track of two pieces of information: the depth (distance) of the closest object to the viewer that covers that pixel and the intensity (color) that should be displayed for that pixel.

3. Before processing any objects, we set the depth for all pixels to a very far value (e.g., 1.0) and set the intensity to a background color.

4. Now, we go through each object (like polygons or shapes) in the scene. For each object, we determine which pixels of the screen it covers when projected onto it.

5. For each covered pixel, we calculate the depth of the object at that pixel's position.

6. If the new object's depth is less (closer to the viewer) than the depth already recorded for that pixel, we update the depth and intensity values for that pixel with the new object's information. This way, we keep track of the closest object for each pixel.

7. After processing all the objects, the intensity array will contain the final image, and each pixel will show the color of the closest object to the viewer.

   
   
   

However, the Z-Buffer Algorithm has some limitations. It requires large arrays to store depth and intensity information for each pixel, which can be impractical for large resolutions. To overcome this, the image can be divided into smaller parts, and the algorithm is applied to each part separately. While this reduces memory usage, it can increase processing time.

In summary, the Z-Buffer Algorithm is a useful technique to handle hidden surfaces in computer graphics, ensuring that the correct objects are displayed on the screen based on their distance from the viewer. But, it can be resource-intensive, and dividing the screen into smaller parts can help manage the memory requirements.