AutoCAD is software for 2D and 3D computer-aided design.
Developed by Autodesk, AutoCAD is a commercial software application first released in 1992.
It has been available since 1982 as a desktop application and since 2010 as a mobile, web, and cloud-based app which has been marketed as AutoCAD 360.
Initially AutoCAD was derived from a program called Interact, which was written in a proprietary language. Its first release only use entities such as polygons, circles, lines, arcs, and text to construct complex objects.
Can you use AutoCAD for 3D design?
As the technology evolved it came to support custom objects through the C++ application programming interface.
The latest versions of the technology now include a full set of tools for solid modelling and 3-D. AutoCAD also supports numerous application programming interfaces for automation and customisation.
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The native file format for AutoCAD is DWG, and a basic standard for CAD data interoperability.
AutoCAD also has support provided for Design Web Format, which was developed by Autodesk for publishing CAD data.
