A Primer on Bézier Curves

What A Primer on Bézier Curves actually is

Pomax's book-length guide covers control points, tangents, curvature, offsetting, intersection and arc length, with a live editable graphic beside nearly every section. The maths is fully shown, but the diagrams do most of the explaining and you can edit their source in place.

Why it is worth your time

Dragging a control point while the de Casteljau construction redraws makes the algorithm obvious in a way the recursive formula never will.

Common questions

Is A Primer on Bézier Curves free?

Yes. A Primer on Bézier Curves is free and does not ask you to register or hand over an email address before you can use it.

How long does A Primer on Bézier Curves take?

Clear your evening. We warned you. We file it under "Rabbit hole" — everything about the curve behind every vector graphic.

Does A Primer on Bézier Curves work on a phone?

A Primer on Bézier Curves really wants a mouse and a wide window. It will load on a phone, but the experience is built for desktop.

What kind of site is A Primer on Bézier Curves?

We list it under Explain Everything — hard things, made suddenly obvious. Dragging a control point while the de Casteljau construction redraws makes the algorithm obvious in a way the recursive formula never will.