View factor

In radiative heat transfer, a view factor, ${\displaystyle F_{A\rightarrow B}}$, is the proportion of the radiation which leaves surface ${\displaystyle A}$ that strikes surface ${\displaystyle B}$. In a complex 'scene' there can be any number of different objects, which can be divided in turn into even more surfaces and surface segments.

View factors are also sometimes known as configuration factors, form factors, angle factors or shape factors.