Vertical

Vertical refers to orientation along the vertical axis, the direction from bottom to top, as opposed to horizontal. It is defined with respect to gravity in practical contexts and is used in maps, architecture, and computer graphics to describe height, elevation, or alignment. In many coordinate systems, the vertical coordinate is labeled as y in two dimensions or as z in three dimensions.

In mathematics, the vertical line test is used to determine whether a relation defines a function: if a vertical line intersects the graph in more than one point, it is not a function. Vertical asymptotes describe x-values where a function increases or decreases without bound. The term also appears in descriptions of vertical projection and vertical components in vectors.

In business, vertical refers to strategies related to a specific industry. Vertical integration occurs when a firm controls multiple stages of production and distribution within its value chain, reducing dependence on suppliers or retailers. A vertical market targets products or services to a particular industry or audience, such as healthcare or automotive.

In media and technology, vertical commonly describes portrait-oriented formats. Vertical video and vertical scrolling are optimized for mobile devices and apps. In design and typography, vertical alignment arranges text or elements along a straight vertical line.

In sports, the term vertical is used to describe height-focused measures such as the vertical leap or vertical jump, which assesses how high a player can jump from a standstill.