When sketched geometry is displayed in black, what does it indicate?

When sketched geometry is displayed in black, it indicates that the sketch is fully defined. In SolidWorks, the color of the sketch entities is a visual cue to aid in the design process. Fully defined sketches are critical because they ensure that the geometry will behave predictably when creating features or making changes to the part model.

A fully defined sketch means that all the dimensions and relations have been established so that it cannot change unless explicitly modified by the user. This stability is essential for maintaining design intent and avoiding unintended alterations to the model.

Contrarily, colors such as blue might indicate that the sketch is either partially defined or underdefined, meaning there are missing constraints or dimensions that can lead to ambiguity in how the sketch will behave when involved in design operations. Understanding these cues is crucial for effective sketch management within SolidWorks.