> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://mariadb.com/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://mariadb.com/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_simplify.md).

# ST\_Simplify

{% hint style="info" %}
ST\_Simplify is available from [MariaDB 12.0](/docs/release-notes/community-server/old-releases/12.0/what-is-mariadb-120.md).
{% endhint %}

## Syntax

```bnf
ST_Simplify(g, max_distance)
```

## Description

Takes as input a geometry (g) and a double (max\_distance). It applies the [Ramer–Douglas–Peucker algorithm](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramer%E2%80%93Douglas%E2%80%93Peucker_algorithm) on `g` and returns the resulting geometry.

The goal of the Douglas-Peucker algorithm is to provide generalized simplifications by returning a geometry that is similar to `g` but uses only a subset of points. To perform the simplification, all the vertices that are shorter than `max_distance` are removed.

The algorithm may produce self-intersections and therefore result in invalid geometries. [ST\_IsValid](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/miscellaneous-gis-functions/st_isvalid.md) can be used to test validity of the result.

If the max\_distance is not positive or is `NULL`, an `ER_WRONG_ARGUMENT` will occur.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Simplify(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0,0 2,2 2,2 4,4 4,4 6,6 6)'), 0.5));
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ST_AsText(ST_Simplify(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0,0 2,2 2,2 4,4 4,4 6,6 6)'), 0.5)) |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| LINESTRING(0 0,0 2,2 2,2 4,4 4,4 6,6 6)                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

SELECT ST_AsText(ST_Simplify(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0,0 2,2 2,2 4,4 4,4 6,6 6)'), 1));  
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| ST_AsText(ST_Simplify(ST_GeomFromText('LINESTRING(0 0,0 2,2 2,2 4,4 4,4 6,6 6)'), 1)) |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| LINESTRING(0 0,0 2,2 2,2 4,6 6)                                                       |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
```

## See Also

* [Geometry Constructors](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors.md)
* [ST\_AsText](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/wkt/st_astext.md)
* [ST\_GeomFromText](/docs/server/reference/sql-statements/geometry-constructors/wkt/st_geomfromtext.md)

<sub>*This page is licensed: CC BY-SA / Gnu FDL*</sub>

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