Perlin noise

A gradient noise algorithm used to generate natural-looking textures and procedural terrain in computer graphics.

Developed by Ken Perlin in 1983 to solve the sterile look of early CGI, Perlin noise is a cornerstone of procedural generation. Unlike white noise (which is purely random), this algorithm uses a grid of gradient vectors and interpolation to create smooth, continuous transitions. It earned Perlin a Technical Achievement Academy Award in 1997 for its transformative impact on films like Tron. Today, developers use it to build everything from Minecraft landscapes to realistic cloud systems and marble textures by layering multiple octaves of noise to simulate the complexity of the natural world.

https://mrl.cs.nyu.edu/~perlin/noise/