Switching is not really an optimisation method but it is efficient from a programmers/modellers point of view and is closely related to levels of details so we will introduce it here.

Switching is the replacement of one shape/object with another within a switch node in a scene graph. A common use in the military and in games is to replace a shape in one state with one in another state while still representing the same object in the scene graph.

Example of three switching states for a rocket launcher:

Rocket launcher in position

Rocket launcher hit

Rocket launcher destroyed