d3-polygon vs earcut vs polygon-clipping vs turf vs clipper-lib
Geometric Operations Libraries Comparison
1 Year
d3-polygonearcutpolygon-clippingturfclipper-libSimilar Packages:
What's Geometric Operations Libraries?

These libraries provide various functionalities for performing geometric operations such as polygon clipping, triangulation, and spatial analysis. They are essential for applications that require manipulation of geometric shapes, such as graphics rendering, geographic information systems (GIS), and game development. Each library has its own strengths and use cases, making it important to understand their features when selecting one for a project.

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d3-polygon3,448,84297-64 years agoISC
earcut3,135,6322,26157.4 kB222 months agoISC
polygon-clipping485,730567350 kB44a year agoMIT
turf18,1209,570-2549 years agoMIT
clipper-lib17,795183215 kB7-BSL
Feature Comparison: d3-polygon vs earcut vs polygon-clipping vs turf vs clipper-lib

Polygon Clipping

  • d3-polygon:

    d3-polygon offers basic polygon operations, including area calculation and convex hull generation. While it is not as feature-rich as clipper-lib, it is sufficient for simple visualizations and data-driven applications.

  • earcut:

    earcut does not perform clipping but focuses on triangulating polygons efficiently. It is optimized for performance, making it suitable for rendering polygons in real-time applications such as games and interactive graphics.

  • polygon-clipping:

    polygon-clipping provides basic polygon clipping functionality, allowing for simple intersection and union operations. It is straightforward to use and integrates easily into projects that require basic clipping without additional complexity.

  • turf:

    turf includes polygon clipping as one of its many geospatial functions, allowing for operations on GeoJSON data. It is suitable for applications that require a combination of geospatial analysis and polygon manipulation.

  • clipper-lib:

    clipper-lib excels in polygon clipping operations, allowing for complex intersections, unions, and differences between polygons. It supports both simple and complex polygons and provides options for offsetting shapes, making it ideal for CAD and graphic applications.

Performance

  • d3-polygon:

    d3-polygon is lightweight and efficient for basic polygon operations, but it may not be as performant as clipper-lib for complex tasks. It is best used in conjunction with D3.js for data visualization.

  • earcut:

    earcut is known for its exceptional performance in triangulating polygons. It is designed to handle large datasets quickly, making it ideal for applications that require real-time rendering.

  • polygon-clipping:

    polygon-clipping is efficient for basic clipping operations but may not perform as well as clipper-lib for more complex scenarios. It is suitable for projects that require simplicity over performance.

  • turf:

    turf is designed for geospatial analysis and can handle various operations efficiently. However, its performance may vary depending on the complexity of the operations being performed.

  • clipper-lib:

    clipper-lib is highly optimized for performance, particularly in handling complex polygon operations. Its algorithms are designed for speed, making it suitable for applications that require real-time processing of geometric data.

Integration

  • d3-polygon:

    d3-polygon integrates seamlessly with D3.js, making it an excellent choice for projects already using this library. It enhances data visualization capabilities by providing polygon-related functions.

  • earcut:

    earcut is easy to integrate into graphics rendering engines and libraries. Its focus on triangulation makes it a popular choice for game development and interactive graphics applications.

  • polygon-clipping:

    polygon-clipping is straightforward to integrate into projects that require basic polygon operations. Its simplicity allows for quick implementation without extensive setup.

  • turf:

    turf is designed for use with GeoJSON and integrates well with mapping libraries like Leaflet and Mapbox. It is ideal for applications that require geospatial data manipulation and analysis.

  • clipper-lib:

    clipper-lib can be integrated into various applications, particularly those requiring complex geometric operations. It can be used with different graphics libraries and frameworks, making it versatile for developers.

Use Cases

  • d3-polygon:

    d3-polygon is best used in data visualization projects where basic polygon operations are needed. It is particularly useful for creating visual representations of data in D3.js.

  • earcut:

    earcut is perfect for game development and real-time graphics applications where fast triangulation of polygons is required. It is commonly used in rendering engines and frameworks.

  • polygon-clipping:

    polygon-clipping is suitable for applications that need simple polygon clipping without additional dependencies. It is great for projects that require basic geometric operations without complexity.

  • turf:

    turf is ideal for geospatial applications, including mapping, spatial analysis, and geographic data manipulation. It is widely used in GIS applications and for processing GeoJSON data.

  • clipper-lib:

    clipper-lib is ideal for CAD applications, graphic design software, and any project requiring advanced polygon manipulation. Its robust capabilities make it suitable for complex geometrical tasks.

Learning Curve

  • d3-polygon:

    d3-polygon is relatively easy to learn, especially for those familiar with D3.js. Its API is straightforward, making it accessible for beginners in data visualization.

  • earcut:

    earcut is simple to use, with a focus on performance and efficiency. Its API is designed for quick integration, making it beginner-friendly for developers working on graphics applications.

  • polygon-clipping:

    polygon-clipping has a low learning curve, providing a simple API for basic polygon operations. It is easy to implement and understand, making it suitable for beginners.

  • turf:

    turf has a moderate learning curve, as it offers a wide range of geospatial functions. While it is user-friendly, developers may need to familiarize themselves with its various capabilities to utilize it effectively.

  • clipper-lib:

    clipper-lib has a steeper learning curve due to its extensive features and capabilities. Developers may need time to understand its API and how to implement complex operations effectively.

How to Choose: d3-polygon vs earcut vs polygon-clipping vs turf vs clipper-lib
  • d3-polygon:

    Opt for d3-polygon if you are already using the D3.js library and need simple polygon operations like area calculation and convex hull generation. It integrates seamlessly with other D3 modules for data visualization tasks.

  • earcut:

    Select earcut for fast and efficient triangulation of polygons. It is particularly useful for rendering 2D shapes in web applications and games, where performance and speed are critical.

  • polygon-clipping:

    Use polygon-clipping if you require a straightforward solution for polygon clipping operations without the need for additional dependencies. It is easy to integrate and provides basic functionality for clipping and union operations.

  • turf:

    Choose turf if you need a comprehensive set of geospatial analysis tools. It is ideal for applications that require spatial calculations, geojson manipulation, and advanced geographic operations.

  • clipper-lib:

    Choose clipper-lib if you need robust polygon clipping and offsetting capabilities. It is well-suited for applications that require complex polygon operations and high performance, especially in graphics and CAD applications.

README for d3-polygon

d3-polygon

This module provides a few basic geometric operations for two-dimensional polygons. Each polygon is represented as an array of two-element arrays [​[x1, y1], [x2, y2], …], and may either be closed (wherein the first and last point are the same) or open (wherein they are not). Typically polygons are in counterclockwise order, assuming a coordinate system where the origin ⟨0,0⟩ is in the top-left corner.

Installing

If you use npm, npm install d3-polygon. You can also download the latest release on GitHub. For vanilla HTML in modern browsers, import d3-polygon from Skypack:

<script type="module">

import {polygonHull} from "https://cdn.skypack.dev/d3-polygon@3";

const hull = polygonHull(points);

</script>

For legacy environments, you can load d3-polygon’s UMD bundle from an npm-based CDN such as jsDelivr; a d3 global is exported:

<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/d3-polygon@3"></script>
<script>

const hull = d3.polygonHull(points);

</script>

API Reference

# d3.polygonArea(polygon) <>

Returns the signed area of the specified polygon. If the vertices of the polygon are in counterclockwise order (assuming a coordinate system where the origin ⟨0,0⟩ is in the top-left corner), the returned area is positive; otherwise it is negative, or zero.

# d3.polygonCentroid(polygon) <>

Returns the centroid of the specified polygon.

# d3.polygonHull(points) <>

Returns the convex hull of the specified points using Andrew’s monotone chain algorithm. The returned hull is represented as an array containing a subset of the input points arranged in counterclockwise order. Returns null if points has fewer than three elements.

# d3.polygonContains(polygon, point) <>

Returns true if and only if the specified point is inside the specified polygon.

# d3.polygonLength(polygon) <>

Returns the length of the perimeter of the specified polygon.