vector
List of: Glossary Items
Subjects: Mathematics, Rendering Control, Scheme Interface
Contents: Glossary

In mathematics, a vector is an expression that has both magnitude and direction (also known as a directed quantity). A vector may be used to represent quantities such as velocity or force. A unit vector always has a magnitude of one. Vectors can be represented geometrically as directed line segments.

In Scheme (and some other programming languages), a vector is a fixed-length indexed array (list) with random access to all elements. In Scheme, vector is an inherent data type. In ACIS, a Scheme data type named gvector has been defined to represent an entity that has both magnitude and direction; it is named gvector to differentiate it from the inherent Scheme data type vector. See also gvector.

In vector graphics (including rendering), digital images are created through a series of mathematical statements that place lines and shapes in a given two-dimensional or three-dimensional space. A vector graphic file describes a series of points to be connected.
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