Vertex - Definition and Overview

In geometry, a vertex (Latin: whirl, whirlpool; plural vertices) is a corner of a polygon (where two sides meet) or of a polyhedron (where three or more faces and an equal number of edges meet).

In graph theory, a graph describes a set of connections between objects. Each object is called a node or vertex. The connections themselves are called edges or arcs.

In 3D computer graphics, a vertex is a point in 3D space with a particular location, usually given in terms of its x, y, and z coordinates. It is one of the fundamental structures in polygonal modelling: two vertices, taken together, can be used to define the endpoints of a line; three vertices can be used to define a planar triangle. Many people confuse vertices with vectors because they can be described with the same properties. They are, however, two completely different things.

See also

• parabola