Model-based multi-fringe interferometry using Zernike polynomials

•A general phase retrieval method is proposed, which is based on one single interferogram with a small amount of fringes (either tilt or power).•Zernike polynomials are used to characterize the phase to be measured; the phase distribution is reconstructed by a non-linear least squares method.•Experiments show that the proposed method can obtain satisfactory results compared to the standard phase-shifting interferometry technique.•The method does not need any auxiliary phase shifting facilities (low cost) and it is easy to implement without the process of phase unwrapping.