Difference Between Window Port and View Port

The main difference between window port and view port is that window port is a world coordinate area selected for displaying while view port is a device coordinate area that locates the scene on the device.

Computer graphics refers to the computer-generated image data created with the help of specialized graphical hardware and software programs. Furthermore, in computer graphics, it is necessary to map the objects in world coordinates to device coordinates. Overall, window port and view port are two ways of displaying objects in computer graphics.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Window Port
     -Definition, Functionality
2. What is View Port
     -Definition, Functionality
3. Difference Between Window Port and View Port
    -Comparison of key differences

Key Terms

Window Port, View Port

What is Window Port

Window port is the world coordinate area to display. A window is a graphical control element. It consists of a visual area containing some of the Graphical User Interface (GUI). Furthermore, there is a frame by a window decoration. Therefore, this window port is a window that defines a rectangular area in world coordinates. 

Furthermore, it is possible to define the window size. It can be larger, smaller or the same size depending on whether to display all data or only a part of data.

What is View Port

A view port is a part of the computer screen. In other words, it is an area on a device to map the object. Therefore, it is the region according to the device coordinates. It is possible to describe the viewport by rendering device-specific coordinates. For example, it denotes the pixels of screen coordinates to render. Depending on the requirement, it is possible to display the entire display device or to display only a portion.

Furthermore, viewing transform or window to view port mapping is the process of mapping the part of the world coordinate scene to device coordinate sense.  Likewise, it is possible to map the objects in the world coordinates to the view port.

Difference Between Window Port and View Port

Definition

Window port is the world coordinate area to display. In contrast, the view port is the device coordinate area to display. Thus, this is the main difference between window port and view port.

Basis

Moreover, window port is the region created according to the world coordinates while the view port is the region created according to the device coordinates.

Functionality

Window port helps to determine the section of the scene to be displayed, whereas the viewport helps to position the scene on the output device. This is another difference between window port and view port.

Conclusion

In brief, window to view port mapping or viewing transformation is the process of bringing the world coordinate screen to match the device coordinate screen. The main difference between window port and view port is that window port is a world coordinate area selected for displaying while view port is a device coordinate area that locates the scene on the device.

References:

1.“Define Window and Viewport. Derive Window to Viewport Transformation.” Ques10, Available here.
2.Garg, Ankit. “Window to Viewport Transformation.” LinkedIn SlideShare, 18 Apr. 2017, Available here.
3.“Computer Graphics.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Aug. 2019, Available here.

Image Courtesy:

1.”Illustration of the viewport transformation” By Martin Kraus – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia