what is cad

CAD stands for Computer-Aided Design, which is the use of computer-based software to aid in design processes. CAD software is used to create, modify, analyze, or optimize a design, and it is frequently used by different types of engineers and designers. The purpose of CAD is to optimize and streamline the designers workflow, increase productivity, improve the quality and level of detail in the design, improve documentation communications, and often contribute toward a manufacturing design database. CAD software outputs come in the form of electronic files, which are then used accordingly for manufacturing processes. CAD is often used in tandem with digitized manufacturing processes, and it is used in a wide variety of professions. With 3D CAD, designers can create digital 2D drawings and 3D models of real-world products before they're ever manufactured. CAD software for mechanical design uses either vector-based graphics to depict the design or raster graphics showing the overall appearance of the design. CAD software is also used to design products such as electronic circuit boards in computers and other devices, and it is known as CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) .