Abstract: A lane mark recognition apparatus for a vehicle is provided which recognizes a lane mark printed on a road using an image of a frontal view captured by a CCD camera. The apparatus identifies a location in the image on which a string model construct converges as a location of the lane mark. The string model utilizes a string construct that is made up of a plurality of node-type string components and lines connecting adjacent string components. The string components are movable within the image by an attractive force produced based on a measure of a picture property of the lane mark. Each of the connecting lines is modeled as an elastic member, which produces a reactive force against deformation of the string model so as to maintain geometry of the whole of the string model.