CATIA
CATIA (Computer-Aided Three-dimensional Interactive Application) is Dassault Systèmes' flagship CAD/PLM platform, dominant in aerospace and automotive body design. CATIA pioneered parametric and variational surface modeling in the 1970s and remains the gold standard for Class-A surface design, complex assembly management, and aerospace structural analysis. CATIA V5 and V6 are the most widely deployed versions; CATIA on 3DEXPERIENCE is the cloud-connected current generation.
Why it matters
CATIA is the CAD standard for aerospace primes (Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Bombardier) and European automotive OEMs. Understanding CATIA's capabilities and limitations is fundamental to understanding why aerospace programs use 3DEXPERIENCE for PLM and why CATIA/NX/Creo file exchange standards (STEP, JT, 3D PDF) exist.
Related concepts
External References
This term appears in
- Best CAD Software 2026: The Engineer's Honest Guide
- From SmarTeam to 3DEXPERIENCE: How Dassault Systèmes Redefined PLM as a Business Platform
- Dassault Systèmes Spotlight: 3DEXPERIENCE, CATIA, and the Business Experience Platform
- Aras Innovator vs 3DEXPERIENCE: Enterprise PLM Architecture Compared
- 3DEXPERIENCE vs Windchill: Integrated Platform vs Modular Approach
Cite this definition
Finocchiaro, Michael. “CATIA.” DemystifyingPLM PLM Glossary, 2026, https://www.demystifyingplm.com/glossary/catia