buffer vs. offset

Question

Hey,

I would like to select a polygon and then buffer the polygon to query on other layers.  Which method to buffer the polygon is better, offset or buffer?  Besides the methods, is there a difference in these two tasks?

Thanks, Chris

DominiqueBroux · Accepted Answer

I would like to select a polygon and then buffer the polygon to query on other layers. Which method to buffer the polygon is better, offset or buffer? Besides the methods, is there a difference in these two tasks?

Likely you have to use the buffer task.

Despite that the results may sometimes like similar for polygons, these 2 tasks are differents.

Whatever the input geometry, the buffer task returns a polygon at the specified distance of the input geometry, while the offset task is only working with lines or polygons and returns always the same kind of geometry after applying an offset to the input geometry. Positive offsets are constructed on the right side of the geometry, negative offsets on the left side.