Oriented Bounding Box
An Oriented Bounding Box (OBB) is a rectangular bounding volume in 3D space that is aligned with the local coordinate axes of an object, allowing it to tightly enclose the object regardless of its orientation. It is commonly used in computer graphics, physics simulations, and collision detection to efficiently approximate the shape of complex objects for spatial queries and intersection tests. Unlike Axis-Aligned Bounding Boxes (AABBs), OBBs can rotate, providing a more accurate fit for rotated or non-axis-aligned objects.
Developers should learn and use Oriented Bounding Boxes when working on applications that require precise collision detection or spatial partitioning for rotated objects, such as in 3D games, robotics, or CAD software. They are particularly useful in scenarios where objects have arbitrary orientations and AABBs would be too loose, leading to inefficient or inaccurate collision checks. OBBs offer a balance between computational efficiency and accuracy, making them ideal for real-time simulations where performance is critical.