SIFT features
Detect scale-space extrema and describe local gradient distributions around them.
Corners change intensity in more than one direction; a long straight edge is less distinctive.
Find extrema across differences of Gaussian images.
Reject unstable points and estimate scale and orientation.
The vector summarizes local gradient directions. Bars illustrate its structure, not the complete 128-value SIFT descriptor.
Accumulate local gradient histograms into a descriptor.
Illustrative example. The stages explain the method; they are not a live OpenCV execution.
Try it on an image
Experiment at pixel level
Detect and draw SIFT keypoints. Circle size reflects feature scale.
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Pixel inspector RGBA · native values · matched scale · 9 × 9 output pixels
Select a pixel
Select a pixel
When to use it
Match textured scenes with substantial changes in scale or orientation.
How it works
- 01Find extrema across differences of Gaussian images.
- 02Reject unstable points and estimate scale and orientation.
- 03Accumulate local gradient histograms into a descriptor.
scale-space extrema → orientation → gradient histogram
What to tune
contrastThreshold rejects weak extrema; edgeThreshold rejects edge-like points; nfeatures caps output. Match floating descriptors with L2.
Where it breaks down
Descriptors are larger and slower than compact binary features. Low texture, motion blur and repeated patterns reduce reliable matches.
TypeScript API
Open an entry for its exact overloads, parameter descriptions, result ownership and pinned upstream source.
All of these calls execute on the CPU. Native objects need explicit disposal. See matrices and ownership and build compatibility.
Related methods
ORB features
Detect oriented corners across an image pyramid and describe them with compact binary tests.
AKAZE features
Find and describe features in a nonlinear scale space that preserves important boundaries.
BRISK features
Describe scale-space keypoints using intensity comparisons on concentric sampling rings.
FAST corners
Look for a contiguous arc of brighter or darker pixels around a candidate centre.