# Bézier curve approximation of a circular Arc

I would like to know how I can get the coordinates of four control points of a Bézier curve that represents the best approximation of a circular arc, knowing the coordinates of three points of the corresponding circle. I would like at least to know the solution to this problem in the case where two of the known circle points are the two ends of a diameter of the circle.

• Can we assume that the second point is half-way along the circular arc? Feb 25, 2016 at 12:34
• No, it can be any point in the circular arc
– Neo
Feb 25, 2016 at 13:25
• It gets much more difficult if the interior point isn't mid-way along the arc. I suggest you begin by figuring out the circle through the three points (i.e. compute its center and radius). Type "circle through three points" into your favorite search engine. Feb 26, 2016 at 1:20

For a unit semi-circle centered at the origin, the points are $(1,0)$, $(1, \tfrac43)$, $(-1, \tfrac43)$, $(-1,0)$. Translate, rotate, and scale as needed.

If the end-points of the diameter are $\mathbf{P}$ and $\mathbf{Q}$, proceed as follows:

Let $\mathbf{U}$ be a vector obtained by rotating $\vec{\mathbf{P}\mathbf{Q}}$ through 90 degrees. Then the control points are $\mathbf{P}$, $\mathbf{P} + \tfrac23 \mathbf{U}$, $\mathbf{Q} + \tfrac23 \mathbf{U}$, $\mathbf{Q}$.

Pseudocode is as follows

Vector V = Q - P;
Vector U = new Vector(-A.Y, A.X);   // Perpendicular to PQ
double s = 2.0/3.0;                 // Scale factor
Vector[] controlPoints = { P, P + s*U, Q + s*U, Q };


For general circular arcs, complete details are given in "Good approximation of circles by curvature-continuous Bézier curves", by Tor Dokken, Morten Dæhlen Tom Lyche, Knut Mørken, Computer Aided Geometric Design Volume 7, Issues 1–4, June 1990, Pages 33-41.

• Thanks for you answer in the case of a semi-circle, I actually made a mistake in my question, I want to know the formula not only for a semi-circle but for any circular arc. I edit my post @bubba
– Neo
Feb 25, 2016 at 12:24
• Thanks, do you have an idea for the general case where the two points are not the ends of the circle's diameter ? @bubba
– Neo
Feb 25, 2016 at 13:18
• $4/3$ is the value that makes the spline also go through $(0,1)$. If you don't insist on this condition you can do a bit better, e.g. the minimum of $\int_0^1 (x(t)^2 + y(t)^2 - 1)^2 \, dt$ is attained when $4/3$ is replaced by $(172 \, / \, 99)^{1/2}$ which is about $1.3181$. Feb 26, 2016 at 3:46
• @NoamD.Elkies. Yes, and the value that minimizes $\max\{x^2(t) +y^2(t) -1: 0 \le x \le 1\}$ (which is often more meaningful) is something different again. See paper by Dokken at al. that I referenced. Mar 1, 2016 at 13:07

You can use the following ways to find the control points of a cubic Bezier curve for approximating a circular arc with end points $$P_0$$, $$P_1$$, radius R and angular span A:

Denoting the control points as $$Q_0$$, $$Q_1$$, $$Q_2$$ and $$Q_3$$, then

$$Q_0=P_0$$,
$$Q_3=P_1$$,
$$Q_1=P_0 + LT_0$$
$$Q_2=P_1 - LT_1$$

where $$T_0$$ and $$T_1$$ are the unit tangent vector of the circular arc at $$P_0$$ and $$P_1$$ and $$L = \frac{4R}{3}tan(\frac{A}{4})$$.

Please note that above formula will give you a pretty good approximation for the circular arc. But it is not "the best" approximation. We can achieve an even better approximation with more complicated formula for the $$L$$ value. But for practical purpose, above formula is typically good enough.

• What do you mean by "angular span" ? @fang
– Neo
Feb 28, 2016 at 18:53
• Angular span is the spanning angle of that circular arc. For example, a semicircle has 180 degree of angular span and a full circle has a 360 degree of angular span. Be sure to use radian (not degree) in the computation of tan().
– fang
Feb 28, 2016 at 21:05
• Since tangents are unit-length, shouldn't the formula for $L$ be multiplied by $R$? Mar 23, 2020 at 18:50
• You are correct. Thanks for catching this. I will revise the formula.
– fang
Mar 24, 2020 at 1:43
• @fang Could you describe "an even better approximation with more complicated formula for the L value"? Jan 2 at 19:11