Point vs. Vertex — What's the Difference?

A specific location in space with no volume, area, or length.

A corner point of a polygon where two sides meet.

A unit of scoring in games and sports.

The point of intersection of lines or edges.

A particular place within a larger context.

A key component in graph theory representing nodes.

An exact moment in time.

The topmost point of something, like a mountain.

A detail in discussion or argument.

A principal point of intersection in a network.

A sharp or tapered end

The highest point; the top or apex.

An object having a sharp or tapered end

Each angular point of a polygon, polyhedron, or other figure.

A tapering extension of land projecting into water; a peninsula, cape, or promontory.

The highest point; the apex or summit

A mark formed by or as if by a sharp end.

The highest point of the skull.

A mark or dot used in printing or writing for punctuation, especially a period.

The top of the head.

A decimal point.

In astrology, the highest point reached in the apparent motion of a celestial body.

(Linguistics) A vowel point.

The point at which the sides of an angle intersect.

One of the protruding marks used in certain methods of writing and printing for the blind.

The point on a triangle or pyramid opposite to and farthest away from its base.

A dimensionless geometric object having no properties except location.

A point on a polyhedron common to three or more sides.

An element in a geometrically described set.

A point of maximal curvature on a parabola or hyperbola.

A place or locality considered with regard to its position

The highest point, top or apex of something.

A narrowly particularized and localized position or place; a spot

(anatomy) The highest surface on the skull; the crown of the head.

A specified degree, condition, or limit, as in a scale or course

(geometry) An angular point of a polygon, polyhedron or higher order polytope.

Any of the 32 equal divisions marked at the circumference of a mariner's compass card that indicate direction.

The common point of the two rays that form an angle.

The interval of 11°15′ between any two adjacent markings.

The point at which an axis meets a curve or surface.

A distinct condition or degree

(mathematics) A point on the curve with a local minimum or maximum of curvature.

The interval of time immediately before a given occurrence; the verge

(graph theory) One of the elements of a graph joined or not by edges to other vertices.

A specific moment in time

(computer graphics) A point in 3D space, usually given in terms of its Cartesian coordinates.

An objective or purpose to be reached or achieved, or one that is worth reaching or achieving

(optics) The point where the surface of a lens crosses the optical axis.

The major idea or essential part of a concept or narrative

(particle physics) An interaction point.

A significant, outstanding, or effective idea, argument, or suggestion

(astrology) The point where the prime vertical meets the ecliptic in the western hemisphere of a natal chart.

A separate, distinguishing item or element; a detail

(typography) A sharp downward point opposite a crotch, as in the letters "V" and "W" but not "Y".

A quality or characteristic that is important or distinctive, especially a standard characteristic used to judge an animal.

A turning point; the principal or highest point; top; summit; crown; apex.

A single unit, as in counting, rating, or measuring.

The top, or crown, of the head.

A unit of academic credit usually equal to one hour of class work per week during one semester.

The zenith, or the point of the heavens directly overhead.

A numerical unit of academic achievement equal to a letter grade.

The point in any figure opposite to, and farthest from, the base; the terminating point of some particular line or lines in a figure or a curve; the top, or the point opposite the base.

Sports & Games A unit of scoring or counting.

The point of intersection of lines or the point opposite the base of a figure

A unit equal to one dollar, used to quote or state variations in the current prices of stocks or commodities.

The highest point (of something);

A unit equal to one percent, used to quote or state interest rates or shares in gross profits.

One percent of the total principal of a loan, paid up front to the lender and considered separately from the interest.

(Music) A phrase, such as a fugue subject, in contrapuntal music.

(Printing) A unit of type size equal to 0.01384 inch, or approximately 1/72 of an inch.

A jeweler's unit of weight equal to 2 milligrams or 0.01 carat.

The act or an instance of pointing.

The stiff and attentive stance taken by a hunting dog.

A reconnaissance or patrol unit that moves ahead of an advance party or guard, or that follows a rear guard.

The position occupied by such a unit or guard

Either of two positions in ice hockey just inside the offensive zone near the boards, usually assumed by defenders attempting to keep the puck in the offensive zone.

(Basketball) A position in the forecourt beyond the top of the key, usually taken by the point guard.

In women's lacrosse, a defensive player who marks the opponent playing nearest to the goal (the first home).

An electrical contact, especially one in the distributor of an automobile engine.

Chiefly British An electrical socket or outlet.

Points The extremities of an animal, such as a cat or horse, especially when they differ in color from the rest of the coat.

A movable rail, tapered at the end, such as that used in a railroad switch.

The vertex of the angle created by the intersection of rails in a frog or switch.

A ribbon or cord with a metal tag at the end, used to fasten clothing in the 16th and 17th centuries.

To direct or aim

To bring (something) to notice

To indicate the position or direction of

To sharpen (a pencil, for example); provide with a point.

To separate with decimal points

To mark (text) with points; punctuate.

(Linguistics) To mark (a consonant) with a vowel point.

To give emphasis to; stress

To indicate the presence and position of (game) by standing immobile and directing the muzzle toward it. Used of a hunting dog.

To fill and finish the joints of (masonry) with cement or mortar.

To direct attention or indicate position with or as if with the finger.

To turn the mind or thought in a particular direction or to a particular conclusion

To be turned or faced in a given direction; aim.

To indicate the presence and position of game. Used of a hunting dog.

(Nautical) To sail close to the wind.

A discrete division of something.

An individual element in a larger whole; a particular detail, thought, or quality.

A particular moment in an event or occurrence; a juncture.

(archaic) Condition, state.

A topic of discussion or debate; a proposition.

A focus of conversation or consideration; the main idea.

A purpose or objective, which makes something meaningful.

(obsolete) The smallest quantity of something; a jot, a whit.

(obsolete) A tiny amount of time; a moment.

A specific location or place, seen as a spatial position.

A zero-dimensional mathematical object representing a location in one or more dimensions; something considered to have position but no magnitude or direction. Category:en:Shapes

A full stop or other terminal punctuation mark.

(music) A dot or mark used to designate certain tones or time. In ancient music, it distinguished or characterized certain tones or styles (points of perfection, of augmentation, etc.). In modern music, it is placed on the right of a note to raise its value, or prolong its time, by one half.

(by extension) A note; a tune.

A distinguishing quality or characteristic.

The chief or excellent features.

Something tiny, as a pinprick; a very small mark.

(now only in phrases) A tenth; formerly also a twelfth.

Each of the marks or strokes written above letters, especially in Semitic languages, to indicate vowels, stress etc.

A unit of scoring in a game or competition.

(mathematics) A decimal point (now especially when reading decimal fractions aloud).

(economics) A unit used to express differences in prices of stocks and shares.

(typography) a unit of measure equal to 1/12 of a pica, or approximately 1/72 of an inch (exactly 1/72 of an inch in the digital era).

(UK) An electric power socket.

A unit of bearing equal to one thirty-second of a circle, i.e. 11.25°.

(UK) A unit of measure for rain, equal to 0.254 mm or 0.01 of an inch.

Either of the two metal surfaces in a distributor which close or open to allow or prevent the flow of current through the ignition coil. There is usually a moving point, pushed by the distributor cam, and a fixed point, and they are built together as a unit.

A sharp extremity.

The sharp tip of an object.

Any projecting extremity of an object.

An object which has a sharp or tapering tip.

(backgammon) Each of the twelve triangular positions in either table of a backgammon board, on which the stones are played.

A peninsula or promontory.

The position at the front or vanguard of an advancing force.

Each of the main directions on a compass, usually considered to be 32 in number; a direction.

(nautical) The difference between two points of the compass.

Pointedness of speech or writing; a penetrating or decisive quality of expression.

A railroad switch.

An area of contrasting colour on an animal, especially a dog; a marking.

A tine or snag of an antler.

(fencing) A movement executed with the sabre or foil.

(heraldry) One of the several different parts of the escutcheon.

(nautical) A short piece of cordage used in reefing sails.

(historical) A string or lace used to tie together certain garments.

Lace worked by the needle.

An item of private information; a hint; a tip; a pointer.

The attitude assumed by a pointer dog when he finds game.

(falconry) The perpendicular rising of a hawk over the place where its prey has gone into cover.

The act of pointing, as of the foot downward in certain dance positions.

The gesture of extending the index finger in a direction in order to indicate something.

A vaccine point.

In various sports, a position of a certain player, or, by extension, the player occupying that position.

(cricket) A fielding position square of the wicket on the off side, between gully and cover.

The position of the player of each side who stands a short distance in front of the goalkeeper.

(baseball) The position of the pitcher and catcher.

(hunting) A spot to which a straight run is made; hence, a straight run from point to point; a cross-country run.

(intransitive) To extend the index finger in the direction of something in order to show where it is or to draw attention to it.

(intransitive) To draw attention to something or indicate a direction.

(intransitive) To face in a particular direction.

To direct toward an object; to aim.

To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end.

(intransitive) To indicate a probability of something.

To repair mortar.

To fill up and finish the joints of (a wall), by introducing additional cement or mortar, and bringing it to a smooth surface.

(stone-cutting) To cut, as a surface, with a pointed tool.

(transitive) To direct or encourage (someone) in a particular direction.

To separate an integer from a decimal with a decimal point.

(transitive) To mark with diacritics.

(dated) To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate.

To direct the central processing unit to seek information at a certain location in memory.

To direct requests sent to a domain name to the IP address corresponding to that domain name.

To sail close to the wind.

To indicate the presence of game by a fixed and steady look, as certain hunting dogs do.

To approximate to the surface; to head.

(dated) To give point to (something said or done); to give particular prominence or force to.

(obsolete) To appoint.

To appoint.

To give a point to; to sharpen; to cut, forge, grind, or file to an acute end; as, to point a dart, or a pencil. Used also figuratively; as, to point a moral.

To direct toward an abject; to aim; as, to point a gun at a wolf, or a cannon at a fort.

Hence, to direct the attention or notice of.

To supply with punctuation marks; to punctuate; as, to point a composition.

To mark (a text, as in Arabic or Hebrew) with vowel points; - also called vocalize.

To give particular prominence to; to designate in a special manner; to indicate, as if by pointing; as, the error was pointed out.

To indicate or discover by a fixed look, as game.

To fill up and finish the joints of (a wall), by introducing additional cement or mortar, and bringing it to a smooth surface.

To cut, as a surface, with a pointed tool.

To direct the point of something, as of a finger, for the purpose of designating an object, and attracting attention to it; - with at.

To indicate the presence of game by fixed and steady look, as certain hunting dogs do.

To approximate to the surface; to head; - said of an abscess.

That which pricks or pierces; the sharp end of anything, esp. the sharp end of a piercing instrument, as a needle or a pin.

An instrument which pricks or pierces, as a sort of needle used by engravers, etchers, lace workers, and others; also, a pointed cutting tool, as a stone cutter's point; - called also pointer.

Anything which tapers to a sharp, well-defined termination. Specifically: A small promontory or cape; a tract of land extending into the water beyond the common shore line.

The mark made by the end of a sharp, piercing instrument, as a needle; a prick.

An indefinitely small space; a mere spot indicated or supposed. Specifically: (Geom.) That which has neither parts nor magnitude; that which has position, but has neither length, breadth, nor thickness, - sometimes conceived of as the limit of a line; that by the motion of which a line is conceived to be produced.

An indivisible portion of time; a moment; an instant; hence, the verge.

A mark of punctuation; a character used to mark the divisions of a composition, or the pauses to be observed in reading, or to point off groups of figures, etc.; a stop, as a comma, a semicolon, and esp. a period; hence, figuratively, an end, or conclusion.

Whatever serves to mark progress, rank, or relative position, or to indicate a transition from one state or position to another, degree; step; stage; hence, position or condition attained; as, a point of elevation, or of depression; the stock fell off five points; he won by tenpoints.

That which arrests attention, or indicates qualities or character; a salient feature; a characteristic; a peculiarity; hence, a particular; an item; a detail; as, the good or bad points of a man, a horse, a book, a story, etc.

Hence, the most prominent or important feature, as of an argument, discourse, etc.; the essential matter; esp., the proposition to be established; as, the point of an anecdote.

A small matter; a trifle; a least consideration; a punctilio.

A dot or mark used to designate certain tones or time

A fixed conventional place for reference, or zero of reckoning, in the heavens, usually the intersection of two or more great circles of the sphere, and named specifically in each case according to the position intended; as, the equinoctial points; the solstitial points; the nodal points; vertical points, etc. See Equinoctial Nodal.

One of the several different parts of the escutcheon. See Escutcheon.

One of the points of the compass (see Points of the compass, below); also, the difference between two points of the compass; as, to fall off a point.

A a string or lace used to tie together certain parts of the dress.

Lace wrought the needle; as, point de Venise; Brussels point. See Point lace, below.

A switch.

An item of private information; a hint; a tip; a pointer.

A fielder who is stationed on the off side, about twelve or fifteen yards from, and a little in advance of, the batsman.

The attitude assumed by a pointer dog when he finds game; as, the dog came to a point. See Pointer.

A standard unit of measure for the size of type bodies, being one twelfth of the thickness of pica type. See Point system of type, under Type.

A tyne or snag of an antler.

One of the spaces on a backgammon board.

A movement executed with the saber or foil; as, tierce point.

A pointed piece of quill or bone covered at one end with vaccine matter; - called also vaccine point.

One of the raised dots used in certain systems of printing and writing for the blind. The first practical system was that devised by Louis Braille in 1829, and still used in Europe (see Braille). Two modifications of this are current in the United States: New York point founded on three bases of equidistant points arranged in two lines (viz., : :: :::), and a later improvement, American Braille, embodying the Braille base (:::) and the New-York-point principle of using the characters of few points for the commonest letters.

In various games, a position of a certain player, or, by extension, the player himself;

A geometric element that has position but no extension;

The precise location of something; a spatially limited location;

A brief version of the essential meaning of something;

A specific identifiable position in a continuum or series or especially in a process;

An isolated fact that is considered separately from the whole;

An instant of time;

The object of an activity;

A V shape;

A very small circular shape;

The unit of counting in scoring a game or contest;

A promontory extending out into a large body of water;

A distinct part that can be specified separately in a group of things that could be enumerated on a list;

A style in speech or writing that arrests attention and has a penetrating or convincing quality or effect

An outstanding characteristic;

Sharp end;

Any of 32 horizontal directions indicated on the card of a compass;

A linear unit used to measure the size of type; approximately 1/72 inch

A punctuation mark (.) placed at the end of a declarative sentence to indicate a full stop or after abbreviations;

A V-shaped mark at one end of an arrow pointer;

The property of a shape that tapers to a sharp point

A distinguishing or individuating characteristic;

The gun muzzle's direction;

A wall socket

A contact in the distributor; as the rotor turns its projecting arm contacts distributor points and current flows to the spark plugs

Indicate a place, direction, person, or thing; either spatially or figuratively;

Be oriented;

Direct into a position for use;

Direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

Be a signal for or a symptom of;

Sail close to the wind

Mark (Hebrew words) with diacritics

Mark with diacritics;

Mark (a psalm text) to indicate the points at which the music changes

Be positionable in a specified manner;

Intend (something) to move towards a certain goal;

Give a point to;

Repair the joints of bricks;

Points in coordinate geometry are used to define the position of objects within a given space using numerical coordinates.

Understanding vertices helps architects and engineers design structures and understand load-bearing points.

A vertex in polygons is a corner where two sides meet and is key in determining the shape’s properties.

A point in geometry is a precise location in space with no dimensions, not an object with size.

In computer graphics, vertices define the shape and structure of 3D models, essential for rendering detailed visuals.

Not all geometric shapes have vertices; for example, circles and ellipses do not have vertices as they have continuous curves without corners.

Practical applications of points include mapping locations, plotting data on graphs, and defining object positions in various technologies.

In graph theory, points refer to generic positions, while vertices are connection points where edges of a graph meet.

Vertices are also central in other fields like computer graphics, where they define the shapes and volumes of 3D models.

Points are used as a scoring system in many sports and games, determining winners and strategies.

In broad terms, all vertices are points, but not all points are vertices since vertices are specific types of points where lines or edges meet.

Points are foundational in mathematics for defining space, constructing lines and shapes, and facilitating theoretical exploration.

A vertex and a corner can be synonymous in geometry, both referring to the point where lines or edges meet.

No, vertices are a type of point, specifically where lines or edges meet, so they cannot exist without being points themselves.

Points are used in technology for touch screen interfaces, GPS technology, and pinpointing precise locations in various applications.