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# ST_StraightSkeleton (Python)

> Compute the straight skeleton of an areal geometry.

Compute the straight skeleton of an areal geometry. The straight skeleton is a method
of representing a polygon by a topological skeleton formed by a continuous shrinking process
where each edge moves inward in parallel at a uniform speed.

SQL reference: [`ST_StraightSkeleton`](/reference/wherobots-db/geometry-data/processing/ST_StraightSkeleton)

## Signature

```python theme={"system"}
from sedona.spark.sql.st_functions import ST_StraightSkeleton

ST_StraightSkeleton(
    geometry: ColumnOrName,
    max_vertices: Optional[Union[ColumnOrName, int]] = None,
) -> Column
```

## Parameters

<ParamField path="geometry" type="ColumnOrName" required>
  Polygon or MultiPolygon geometry column to compute the straight skeleton for.
</ParamField>

<ParamField path="max_vertices" type="Optional[Union[ColumnOrName, int]]" default="None">
  Optional maximum number of vertices to keep in the input geometry before computing.
  If the geometry has more vertices, it will be simplified. This improves performance for complex geometries.
</ParamField>

## Returns

<ResponseField name="return" type="Column">
  MultiLineString representing the straight skeleton as a geometry column.
</ResponseField>


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