Final answer:
Texture mapping occurs in the rendering pipeline, specifically during the fragment shader stage. This process applies textures to 3D models using interpolated texture coordinates to give surfaces detail and complexity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Texture mapping is a process that happens in the rendering pipeline of computer graphics. It involves applying a texture to a 3D model's surface to give it more complexity and detail without increasing its geometric complexity. This process takes place in the fragment shader stage of the pipeline, after the vertex shader has processed the vertices but before the final color is calculated and output to the screen.
During this stage, textures are sampled and applied according to the texture coordinates that are assigned to the model's vertices. The coordinates are interpolated across the surface of the polygons during rasterization, and the correct texture data is then retrieved and blended with the object's material properties to produce the final appearance. Advanced techniques such as bump mapping, normal mapping, or parallax mapping can also be applied at this point to create the illusion of more complex surfaces.