CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javalibgdx
Michael Kemp
Michael Kemp

Reputation: 300

What are Vectors in programming (LibGDX)?

I've seen vectors quite a bit in my time learning LibGDX and coding in general. But I've never been able to grasp what they are.

I know:

In programming, do they also represent magnitude and direction? Is the array aspect to say that they represent all points between two x and y coordinates?

Or else do they represent a single point that has a direction, ie when that point moves it will go in that direction? Does it signify movement?

Example:

BodyDef bodyDef = new BodyDef();
bodyDef.position.set(new Vector2(Constants.GROUND_X, Constants.GROUND_Y));

What is happening here? Why would we want to set the ground to a vector?

Upvotes: 1

Views: 1726

Answers (1)

AAryan
AAryan

Reputation: 20140

std::vector, Vector2 and Vector3 and vector math

  • std::vector, is a sequence container in c++ that encapsulates dynamic size arrays.

  • Vector2 and Vector3 are classes in Libgdx API that contains 2 and 3 float value respectively also having number of method that help in practical implementation of vector math.

  • vector math is an amazing tool that makes programming of complex behaviors much simpler. vector math is very helpful in 2D/3D game development.

    vector as magnitude and direction

    Typically, we define coordinates as an (x,y) pair, x representing the horizontal offset and y the vertical one. This makes sense given the screen is just a rectangle in two dimensions. As an example, here is a position in 2D space:

    enter image description here

    A position can be anywhere in space. The position (0,0) has a name, it’s called the origin. Remember this term well because it has more implicit uses later. The (0,0) of a n-dimensions coordinate system is the origin.

    In vector math, coordinates have two different uses, both equally important. They are used to represent a position but also a vector. The same position as before, when imagined as a vector, has a different meaning.

    enter image description here

    When imagined as a vector, two properties can be inferred, the direction and the magnitude. Every position in space can be a vector, with the exception of the origin. This is because coordinates (0,0) can’t represent direction (magnitude 0).

    enter image description here

Upvotes: 3

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