Vertex Connect

Connect Vertex Path

Reference

Mode: Edit Mode
Menu: Mesh ‣ Vertices ‣ Connect Vertex Path
Hotkey: J

This tool connects vertices in the order they are selected, splitting the faces between them.

When there are only two vertices selected, a cut will be made across unselected faces, a little like the knife tool; however, this is limited to straight cuts across connected faces.

../../../../_images/bmesh_connect_verts_pair_before.png

Two disconnected vertices.
../../../../_images/bmesh_connect_verts_pair_after.png

Result of connecting.

Running a second time will connect the first/last endpoints.

When many vertices are selected, faces will be split by their selected vertices.

../../../../_images/bmesh_connect_verts_multi_before.png

Before.
../../../../_images/bmesh_connect_verts_multi_after.png

After.

Vertices not connected to any faces will create edges, so this can be used as a way to quickly connect isolated vertices too.

Connect Vertices

Reference

Mode: Edit Mode
Menu: Mesh ‣ Vertices ‣ Connect Vertices

This tool connects selected vertices by creating edges between them and splitting the face.

This tool can be used on many faces at once.

../../../../_images/modeling_vertexconnect-before.png

Vertices before connecting.
../../../../_images/modeling_vertexconnect-after.png

After connecting vertices.
../../../../_images/modeling_vertexconnect-after-faces.png

Resulting face pair.

The main difference between this tool and Connect Vertex Path, is this tool ignores selection order and connects all selected vertices that share a face.