cardinaldirection

Cardinal directions are the four main points used to describe direction and location on the Earth’s surface: north, south, east, and west. The term cardinal comes from Latin cardinalis, meaning hinge or principal, reflecting their role as primary reference directions. In navigation and cartography they form the basis of the compass rose and are used to describe bearing, routes, and the orientation of maps.

On most compasses, these directions correspond to the four cardinal points at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270°. Maps are typically drawn with north at the top, though map orientation can vary by tradition. The four cardinal directions are distinct from intercardinal (or ordinal) directions, which are halfway points such as northeast and southwest.

Geography distinguishes true north (the geographic north pole) from magnetic north (the direction indicated by a magnetic compass) and from grid north on maps. Magnetic variation or declination must be accounted for when converting between compass bearings and geographic directions.

Usage extends across navigation, surveying, meteorology, and aviation, where cardinal directions provide a stable frame of reference for describing location, wind direction, or flight paths. They also appear in cultural practices, architecture, and land naming, often guiding the orientation of buildings and streets. See also intercardinal directions, azimuth, bearing, magnetic declination, and compass for related concepts.