DDA Line Drawing Algorithm in C and C++

Here you will learn about dda line drawing algorithm in C and C++.

In Computer Graphics the first basic line drawing algorithm is Digital Differential Analyzer (DDA) Algorithm.

A line connects two points. It is a basic element in graphics. To draw a line, you need two points between which you can draw a line.

Also Read: Bresenham’s Line Drawing Algorithm in C and C++

Digital Differential Analyzer (DDA) Algorithm

Step 1: Read the input of the 2 end points of the line as (x1, y1) & (x2, y2) such that x1 != x2 and y1 != y2

Step 2: Calculate dx = x2 – x1 and dy = y2 – y1

Step 3:

if(dx>=dy)

step=dx

else

step=dy

Step 4: xin = dx / step & yin = dy / step

Step 5: x = x1 + 0.5 & y = y1 + 0.5

Step 6: 

for(k = 0; k < step; k++)

{

x = x + xin

y = y + yin

putpixel(x, y)

}

Program for DDA Line Drawing Algorithm in C

#include <graphics.h>
#include <stdio.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <dos.h>

void main( )
{
	float x,y,x1,y1,x2,y2,dx,dy,step;
	int i,gd=DETECT,gm;

	initgraph(&gd,&gm,"c:\\turboc3\\bgi");

	printf("Enter the value of x1 and y1 : ");
	scanf("%f%f",&x1,&y1);
	printf("Enter the value of x2 and y2: ");
	scanf("%f%f",&x2,&y2);

	dx=abs(x2-x1);
	dy=abs(y2-y1);

	if(dx>=dy)
		step=dx;
	else
		step=dy;

	dx=dx/step;
	dy=dy/step;

	x=x1;
	y=y1;

	i=1;
	while(i<=step)
	{
		putpixel(x,y,5);
		x=x+dx;
		y=y+dy;
		i=i+1;
		delay(100);
	}

	closegraph();
}

Outptut

DDA Line Drawing Algorithm in C and C++

Program for DDA Line Drawing Algorithm in C++

#include <graphics.h>
#include <iostream.h>
#include <math.h>
#include <dos.h>

void main( )
{
	float x,y,x1,y1,x2,y2,dx,dy,step;
	int i,gd=DETECT,gm;

	initgraph(&gd,&gm,"c:\\turboc3\\bgi");

	cout<<"Enter the value of x1 and y1 : ";
	cin>>x1>>y1;
	cout<<"Enter the value of x2 and y2: ";
	cin>>x2>>y2;

	dx=abs(x2-x1);
	dy=abs(y2-y1);

	if(dx>=dy)
		step=dx;
	else
		step=dy;

	dx=dx/step;
	dy=dy/step;

	x=x1;
	y=y1;

	i=1;
	while(i<=step)
	{
		putpixel(x,y,5);
		x=x+dx;
		y=y+dy;
		i=i+1;
		delay(100);
	}

	closegraph();
}

Comment below if you have any doubts related above algorithm.

47 thoughts on “DDA Line Drawing Algorithm in C and C++”

  1. No such file or directory
    #include
    ^
    compilation terminated.

    this error is encountered while compilation of the above written program

    1. Sanidhya Dakhera

      If you are using Turbo C, go on the options menu, select libraries and then mark the graphics library with an X and then close the Options tab. Save your program and then run it again

  2. all programs are awesome, Thanks for such a nice blog, where can I get all the commands used in graphics.h ??? I want to know, making circle, and the arguments of circle, what is first one? Or x and y are used to give it postiion, you things like that,

  3. A simple way to explain this might be that you’re simply counting the number of ‘steps’ to take between Point 1 and Point 2, calculating the x-axis length and y-axis of each ‘step’, and then looping to add that step length to X and Y respectively for each step between point 1 to point 2.

    Unless I’m mistaken, your algorithm here (and your Bresenham algorithm too) only works when X2 > X1 and Y2 > Y1. It’s easy to fix for any two arbitrary points: simply subtract the axis length instead of adding it (dx or dy), in the case that X1 > X2 or Y1 > Y2 respectively.

    1. yah chal nai raha
      eskay bad
      Enter the value of x1 and y1
      Enter the value of x2 and y2
      window bgi screen dev pay line show nai ho rahi???????/???

  4. How to run this on macOS or Linux?? The BGI(Borland Graphics Library) was created for Windows. This code doesn’t work on macOS or Linux?

    1. This would help you
      First: Go to the working directory (place your file is stored)
      Second: open cmd(command promt there) or press Win+r and then enter cmd in the search box then manually change the path (it will be C: by default)
      Third: when you are in working directory enter gcc “filename.c” -o “filename.exe” (if it is a c program) if the file compiles correctly then press ./”filename.exe” this will run your code
      AND PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE SET UP YOUR PATH FOR GCC AND REMOVE THE QUOTES WHILE ENTERING THE FILENAME.

  5. Hey just checked your code its not applicable for cases like initial points (80,20) and (20,20). Please modify the code

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