Computer-Aided Design (CAD) is the use of computer-based software to aid in design processes. CAD software is used by architects, engineers, drafters, artists, and others to create precision drawings or models. 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 can be used to create two-dimensional (2-D) drawings or three-dimensional (3-D) models. Designs made through CAD software help protect products and inventions when used in patent applications. CAD output is often in the form of electronic files, which are then used accordingly for manufacturing processes.
CAD software is used heavily within a wide variety of professions, including architecture, engineering, product design, and manufacturing. Some of the most widely used CAD programs include AutoCAD, AutoCAD LT, and Fusion 360. CAD software can help designers draft construction documentation, explore design ideas, visualize concepts through photorealistic renderings, and simulate how a design performs in the real world.
