# Waveguide propagation

A guided calculation describes the transverse field through one or more modes.
Begin with the effective-area description, then choose a guide family. Each
family's practical chapter links to its equations, spatial resolution choices
and limitations. Coupling at a wall or along a taper is treated separately from
the choice of modes. The [spatial overview](../../introduction/spatial-description.md)
introduces these choices; the [waveguide gallery](../../auto_examples/waveguides/index.rst)
shows them in full simulations.

```{toctree}
:maxdepth: 1
:caption: Choosing and using a guide

mode-averaging
gnlse
modes
capillaries
solid-fibres
supplied-guides
profiles
```

```{toctree}
:maxdepth: 1
:caption: Hollow guides and spatial resolution

capillary-model
mode-sets
radial-quadrature
antiresonant
rectangular
planar
tabulated-modes
```

```{toctree}
:maxdepth: 1
:caption: Coupling and vector modes

coherent-wall
taper-coupling
vector-wall
step-index
graded-index
general-modal
modal-projection
modal-bases
moving-modal
vector-fields
modal-tables
```