# Coding contour integration [duplicate]

I am struggling to understand contour integration. How would it be applied in Mathematica? I am hoping that if I see it written in Mathematica code, it will help me understand it. eg how would $$\int_\gamma \text{}(z) = \int_a^b \text{f}(z(t)) z'(t) \, \text{d}t$$ be coded? (Example taken form Wikipedia.)

• It's basically a line integral of a scalar function of two variables along a path, $\gamma$ in your case. Do you not understand what it is conceptually or practically? – acl May 28 '14 at 20:29
• Conceptually, I'm afraid. I looked at this but I don't really understand it. – martin May 28 '14 at 20:30
• Is my first stop MSE? (I was rather hoping not - I think it may be easier to pick apart if I see the coding.) – martin May 28 '14 at 20:31
• Hmm, I wish I had some time to explain it (it's probably easy once you get it). How about the first figure/animation here, ie, this? Any clearer what is going on? – acl May 28 '14 at 20:32
• OK, so it is the absolute area under a line in a 3-dimensional field? – martin May 28 '14 at 20:35