Topology in 3D modeling geometry refers to how vertices, edges, and faces (polygons) connect to form a 3D model’s structure—it’s the foundational "map" of the model’s shape.
- It’s about polygon *flow*: arranging faces to support smooth deformation (for animation) or subdivision (for smoothing) without artifacts like stretching or tearing. - It’s critical for downstream tasks: messy topology can break rigging (adding a skeleton) or texturing, so clean connections ensure these steps work.
For beginners, start with quadrilateral (four-sided) faces—they’re easier to edit and maintain clean topology for most workflows.