An edge loop is a path of polygon edges that are connected in sequence by their shared vertices. For example, if you select one horizontal edge on a sphere, an edge loop selection will attempt to select all of the horizontal edges along that same line of latitude on the sphere.

Edge loop selections let you select several edges across a polygon mesh without having to select each edge individually.

There are several options for selecting an edge loop on a polygonal mesh in Maya. You can select:

• an edge loop that fully traverses a polygonal mesh
• an edge loop that partially traverses a polygonal mesh
• a multi-directional edge loop path on a polygonal mesh

For more information on how an edge loop selection works, see Edge ring and edge loop selection tips.

To select an edge loop on a polygonal mesh

1. In the scene view, press over a polygon mesh and select Edge from the context sensitive marking menu.
2. Double-click on an edge of the polygon mesh where you want the edge loop selection to occur.
   

   When you double-click an edge on the mesh, a path of selected edges appears across the mesh in either direction from the edge you select.

   For example, if you double-click on a single horizontal edge on a sphere, a loop selection will select the remaining edges that lie along the same line of latitude on the sphere as the edge you selected, provided the selection does not encounter any faces that are not four-sided.

   You can also select a partial edge loop using a process similar to selecting a face or vertex loop, or with the Select Edge Loop Tool.

To select a partial edge loop

1. In the scene view, press over a polygon mesh and select Edge from the context sensitive marking menu.
2. Select one edge in the edge loop you want to select.
3. + double-click a non-adjacent edge on the same line of longitude or latitude.

   All the edges between the two edges are selected.

To select a partial edge loop using the Select Edge Loop Tool

1. In the scene view, select the polygon mesh upon which you want to select the edge loop.

   The selected polygon mesh highlights in a green color.

2. From the Polygons menu set, choose Select > Select Edge Loop Tool.

   The selected polygon mesh highlights in a blue color to indicate edge selection mode.

3. In the scene view, click an edge of the polygon mesh where you want the edge loop selection to begin.
4. Continue to click edges along the same contour line on the mesh, to create a partial loop selection of edges on the mesh.

   It’s not necessary that you click every edge along the path, just click once to specify the first edge and a second time along the same contour line along the mesh to indicate the end of the path.

   The Select Edge Loop Tool indicates the partial loop selection by selecting any edges that exist between subsequent edges you select.

   
5. If you want to select a multidirectional edge loop path on the polygonal mesh, do the following:
   • In the scene view, click on an edge of the polygon mesh where you want the edge loop path selection to begin.
   • Continue to click on edges along the same contour line on the mesh to build a partial loop of selected edges on the mesh.

   The Select Edge Loop Tool indicates the partial loop selection by selecting any edges that exist between the edges you’ve previously selected.

   • It’s not necessary that you click on every edge along the path. Click once to specify the first edge and a second time along the same contour line along the mesh to indicate the end of the path.
   • To change the direction of the selection path, click the edge that is directly adjacent to the edge you previously selected to indicate the change in direction for the selection.
6. When you have completed the desired edge loop selection, you can do one of the following to exit the tool:
   • Choose the Select Tool in the Toolbox (Hotkey: q).
   • Choose another tool or feature that performs the next operation on the edge loop selection.

   For example, selecting the Move Tool to move the selected edge loop, selecting Edit Mesh > Extrude to extrude the selected edge loop, or converting the edge loop selection to faces.

7. If you want to cancel the edge selection, do one of the following:
   • To cancel the selection of an edge, + on the desired edge.
   • To cancel the selection of a portion of the edge loop, + on the portion of the selected region.
   • To cancel the edge selection entirely, click anywhere in the scene view off of the mesh.