Boundary Representation (B-rep)
A method for defining 3D solid geometry by its surfaces, edges, and vertices. Mainstream solid modelers — SolidWorks, CATIA, NX, Creo — are all B-rep solids built on Parasolid or ACIS. NURBS surface patches joined by topological edges form the B-rep shell.
Why it matters
B-rep is the lingua franca of engineering documentation and manufacturing. The feature tree in parametric MCAD is a sequential replay log that generates a B-rep solid at each step. PLM systems version, validate, and release B-rep geometry.
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Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “Boundary Representation (B-rep).” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/boundary-representation-b-rep