Home▸Algorithms & AI▸The Line Sweep Algorithm: Solving Geometry Problems by Sweeping a Line Across the Plane

📐 The Line Sweep Algorithm: Solving Geometry Problems by Sweeping a Line Across the Plane

Explore the line sweep (plane sweep) technique in computational geometry, where a moving line tracks a small active set of objects at discrete event points to solve problems like segment intersection far faster than brute force.

Algorithms & AI3DModerate60 FPS

This simulator visually demonstrates a sweep line moving across a set of line segments, showing how the active set updates at each event point and how only adjacent segments are checked for intersections.

🔬 What It Demonstrates

🎮 How to Use

Add or randomize line segments on the canvas, then press play to watch the vertical sweep line advance and highlight the active set and detected intersections in real time.

💡 Did You Know?

Did you know that Fortune's algorithm builds an entire Voronoi diagram using a beach line of parabolic arcs, and that this same sweeping-line philosophy also underlies how some map-rendering engines detect overlapping road segments efficiently?

⚙ Under the hood

line sweepplane sweepcomputational geometryalgorithmssegment intersectiondata structuresfortunes algorithmsweep line

3D · Three.js / WebGL renderer · 60 FPS target · runs fully client-side, no install