Ray Tracing
Ray tracing is a rendering technique in computer graphics that simulates the physical behavior of light to generate highly realistic images. It works by tracing the path of light rays as they interact with objects in a scene, calculating reflections, refractions, shadows, and other optical effects. This method produces photorealistic visuals but is computationally intensive compared to traditional rasterization.
Developers should learn ray tracing for applications requiring high-fidelity graphics, such as video games, visual effects in films, architectural visualization, and scientific simulations. It is essential when aiming for realistic lighting, shadows, and material interactions, especially with the advent of real-time ray tracing in modern GPUs. Use cases include game engines like Unreal Engine, movie production tools, and CAD software for accurate visual representation.