.. _Element_classes:

Element classes
==========================

This class represents no particular element but rather defines common functionality for all elements.

.. note::

    Every element in |PackageName| is derived from this class.

The :code:`Element` class inherits methods from :code:`DrawElement`, which provides default plotting functionality
for common element types.

.. note::

    Every element needs to declare its generic type through :code:`self.element_type` in its constructor
    for the default plotting mechanism to work.  The default constructor defines :code:`self.element_type = self.UNKNOWN`,
    which means that this element **will not be plotted**.

    See *Inherited methods* for more detail on the :code:`DrawElement` class.


.. dropdown:: The Element base class

    .. automodule:: femedu.elements.Element
      :members:


.. dropdown:: Inherited methods

    .. _DrawElement_class:

    .. automodule:: femedu.elements.DrawElement
      :members:



.. dropdown::  Derived Classes

    .. toctree::
        :maxdepth: 1

        Linear/Spring_class.rst
        Truss_class.rst
        Beam2D_class.rst
        Frame2D_class.rst
        Triangle_class.rst
        Triangle6_class.rst
        Diffusion/Triangle_class.rst
        Diffusion/Triangle6_class.rst
        Quad_class.rst
        Quad8_class.rst
        Quad9_class.rst


.. dropdown:: Helper Classes

    .. toctree::
        :maxdepth: 1

        Face_classes.rst