Since this site is software-neutral, here is a glossary of terms.
- Axis-Align Constraint – A constraint the aligns either the x or the y axes of an object with another object (or a null). This is built-in to the aim constraint in Maya, and has the extremely weird name of “Locked Track” in blender.
- Bone – A component of a skeleton. My app is bone-based (as opposed to joint-based).
- Constraint – A condition or piece of code that non-destructively modifies the position of an object or a bone.
- Null – An object that has no geometry, only a position/rotation/scale. Called an empty in blender. I believe most apps call them nulls, though I’m not sure.
- Point constraint – A constraint that points an axis on an object or a bone at another object (or a null). I believe this is called an aim constraint in Maya. Is called track-to in blender.
- Pole Vec – An object or a null that an IK solver tries to aim the arch of the chain at. E.g. it’s used for controlling the direction of knees, elbows, etc.
