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I need a function to find the shortest distance between two line segments. A line segment is defined by two endpoints. So for example one of my line segments (AB) would be defined by the two points A (x1,y1) and B (x2,y2) and the other (CD) would be defined by the two points C (x1,y1) and D (x2,y2).
Feel free to write the solution in any language you want and I can translate it into javascript. Please keep in mind my geometry skills are pretty rusty. I have already seen here and I am not sure how to translate this into a function. Thank you so much for help.
Is this in 2 dimensions? If so, the answer is simply the shortest of the distance between point A and line segment CD, B and CD, C and AB or D and AB. So it's a fairly simple "distance between point and line" calculation (if the distances are all the same, then the lines are parallel).
This site explains the algorithm for distance between a point and a line pretty well.
It's slightly more tricky in the 3 dimensions because the lines are not necessarily in the same plane, but that doesn't seem to be the case here?
All 2D lines unless they are parallel will eventually meet. Learn what is being taught so you understand it rather than trying to cheat this particular q.
Distance between Lines and Segments with their Closest Point of Approach