Computes the convolution of the input sequences X and Y. The data type you wire to the X input determines the polymorphic instance to use.
Use the pull-down menu to select an instance of this VI.

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X is the first input sequence. | ||||
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Y is the second input sequence. | ||||
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algorithm specifies the convolution method to use. When algorithm is direct, this VI computes the convolution using the direct method of linear convolution. When algorithm is frequency domain, this VI computes the convolution using an FFT-based technique.
If X and Y are small, the direct method typically is faster. If X and Y are large, the frequency domain method typically is faster. Additionally, slight numerical differences can exist between the two methods.
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X * Y is the convolution of X and Y. | ||||
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error returns any error or warning from the VI. You can wire error to the Error Cluster From Error Code VI to convert the error code or warning into an error cluster. |

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X is the first complex valued input sequence. | ||||
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Y is the second complex valued input sequence. | ||||
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algorithm specifies the convolution method to use. When algorithm is direct, this VI computes the convolution using the direct method of linear convolution. When algorithm is frequency domain, this VI computes the convolution using an FFT-based technique.
If X and Y are small, the direct method typically is faster. If X and Y are large, the frequency domain method typically is faster. Additionally, slight numerical differences can exist between the two methods.
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X * Y is the convolution of X and Y. | ||||
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error returns any error or warning from the VI. You can wire error to the Error Cluster From Error Code VI to convert the error code or warning into an error cluster. |

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X is the first input sequence. | ||||||
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Y is the second input sequence. | ||||||
![]() |
algorithm specifies the convolution method to use. When algorithm is direct, this VI computes the convolution using the direct method of linear convolution. When algorithm is frequency domain, this VI computes the convolution using an FFT-based technique.
If X and Y are small, the direct method typically is faster. If X and Y are large, the frequency domain method typically is faster. Additionally, slight numerical differences can exist between the two methods.
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output size determines the size of X * Y.
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X * Y is the convolution of X and Y. | ||||||
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error returns any error or warning from the VI. You can wire error to the Error Cluster From Error Code VI to convert the error code or warning into an error cluster. |

![]() |
X is the first complex valued input sequence. | ||||||
![]() |
Y is the second complex valued input sequence. | ||||||
![]() |
algorithm specifies the convolution method to use. When algorithm is direct, this VI computes the convolution using the direct method of linear convolution. When algorithm is frequency domain, this VI computes the convolution using an FFT-based technique.
If X and Y are small, the direct method typically is faster. If X and Y are large, the frequency domain method typically is faster. Additionally, slight numerical differences can exist between the two methods.
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output size determines the size of X * Y.
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X * Y is the convolution of X and Y. | ||||||
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error returns any error or warning from the VI. You can wire error to the Error Cluster From Error Code VI to convert the error code or warning into an error cluster. |
The convolution of the signals x(t) and y(t) is defined as:

where the symbol * denotes convolution.
This VI uses the following equation to perform the discrete implementation of the convolution and obtain the elements of X * Y.

for i = 0, 1, 2, … , M+N–2
where h is X * Y
N is the number of elements in X,
M is the number of elements in Y,
the indexed elements outside the ranges of X and Y are equal to zero, as shown in the following relationships:
xj = 0, j < 0, or j
N
and
yj = 0, j < 0, or j
M.
The convolution operation performed by this VI is not a circular convolution. Because x(t) * y(t)
X(f)Y(f) is a Fourier transform pair, you can create a circular version of the convolution using a block diagram similar to the block diagram shown in the following illustration.
The Convolution VI computes two-dimensional convolution of the input matrices X and Y as follows:

for i = 0, 1, 2, … , M1+M2–2 and j = 0, 1, 2, … , N1+N2–2
where h is X * Y,
M1 is the number of rows of matrix X,
N1 is the number of columns of matrix X,
M2 is the number of rows of matrix Y,
N2 is the number of columns of matrix Y,
The indexed elements outside the ranges of X and Y are equal to zero, as shown in the following relationships:
x(m,n), m < 0 or m
M1 or n < 0 or n
N1
and
y(m,n) , m < 0 or m
M2 or n < 0 or n
N2.
The output size determines the size of the output matrix X * Y as shown in the following figure.

Refer to the Edge Detection with 2D Convolution VI in the labview\examples\analysis\dspxmpl.llb for an example of using the Convolution VI.