Triangle Fan

A triangle fan is a series of connected triangle faces. The first three vertices (denoted below by v_1, v₂, and v₃), define the first triangular face. A new triangle is formed by connecting the next point with its immediate predecessor and the first point of the triangle fan. That is, every additional point v_i defines a new triangular face with vertices v₁, v_i-1, and v_i.

For example, the second triangle is defined by v₁, v₃, v₄, the third by v₁, v₄, v₅, and so on. The following diagram illustrates a typical triangle fan.

The orientation of the triangle fan is determined by the order of vertices of any triangle within the fan. For more information on how vertex order affects surface normal and front/back surface determination, see Faces.

Triangle fans may store measures on their nodes.

Triangle fans may possess optional front or back appearances, and may be single or double sided.