Describe the concept of texture mapping in computer graphics.

Texture mapping is a technique used in computer graphics to enhance the visual appearance of 3D objects by applying a 2D image, called a texture, onto their surfaces. The concept behind texture mapping is to simulate the appearance of different materials, patterns, or details on the surface of an object without actually modeling them in 3D.

In texture mapping, a texture image is created or obtained, which can be a photograph, a hand-drawn image, or a computer-generated pattern. This texture image is then mapped onto the surface of the 3D object using a process called UV mapping. UV mapping involves assigning coordinates, known as UV coordinates, to each vertex of the object's surface. These UV coordinates define how the texture image will be wrapped or projected onto the object.

During rendering, the texture coordinates are interpolated across the surface of the object, and for each pixel, the corresponding texel (texture element) from the texture image is sampled and applied. This process determines the color and other visual properties of each pixel on the object's surface, giving it the appearance of the texture image.

Texture mapping allows for the creation of realistic and detailed surfaces in computer graphics. It can be used to simulate various materials such as wood, metal, fabric, or even complex patterns like brick walls or marble. By mapping textures onto objects, the visual richness and complexity of the scene can be significantly increased, making the rendered images more visually appealing and believable.

In addition to enhancing the appearance of objects, texture mapping can also be used for other purposes in computer graphics, such as adding surface details, creating special effects, or improving the efficiency of rendering by reducing the number of polygons needed to represent complex surfaces.

Overall, texture mapping is a fundamental technique in computer graphics that allows for the realistic representation of surfaces by applying 2D textures onto 3D objects, enhancing their visual appearance and adding depth and complexity to the rendered images.