
A simple C++ geometry processing library for academic and industrial 3D development.
libigl is a high-level C++ library for geometry processing, established as the industry and academic standard for rapid prototyping in 3D graphics. Unlike heavier frameworks like CGAL, libigl is primarily header-only and leverages the Eigen linear algebra library to represent geometry as simple matrices (V for vertices, F for faces). This architecture allows developers to treat 3D meshes as standard data structures, making it highly compatible with modern AI and machine learning pipelines that require 3D data manipulation. In the 2026 landscape, libigl has solidified its position as the backend for many 'Generative 3D' applications, serving as the bridge between neural network outputs and manufacturable geometry. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for mesh parameterization, smoothing, boolean operations, and surface deformation. The library's philosophy of 'minimal dependencies' makes it exceptionally easy to integrate into larger software suites, while its Python bindings have expanded its reach into the data science community, enabling high-performance geometry processing within PyTorch and TensorFlow environments.
Most of the library exists purely in headers, requiring no pre-compilation for basic geometry tasks.
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Efficient implementation of generalized winding numbers for point clouds and meshes.
Local-global iterative solver for surface deformation that preserves local geometry details.
High-performance computation of cotangent weight matrices for mesh smoothing and heat flow.
Least Squares Conformal Maps for flattening 3D surfaces into 2D UV maps with minimal angular distortion.
Robust intersection, union, and subtraction of solid meshes using exact predicates.
An integrated OpenGL-based GUI for real-time visualization of processing results.
Meshes with holes or self-intersections fail in slicing software.
Registry Updated:2/7/2026
Deep learning models produce 3D shapes without UV coordinates.
Raw DICOM data results in noisy, high-poly surfaces.