gráfica

Gráfica is a Spanish noun with several related meanings that center on images and visual representation. It can refer to the graphic arts in general, a printed or drawn image, or the process of creating such images. In data visualization, gráfica is the chart or graph used to display numbers, as in gráficas de barras, gráficas de líneas o gráficas circulares. In mathematics, la gráfica de una función is the set of points in the Cartesian plane that correspond to the function’s values. In computing and digital media, gráfica denotes computer graphics and digital imagery, including both raster and vector formats.

Etymology and usage: the term comes from Greek graphein “to write, to draw” via Latin grafica, and has been used in Spanish since medieval times to name drawings and prints. Over time its sense broadened to cover both the arts and the visualization of data. The term is common across Spanish-speaking countries, though en contextos formales gráfica may be preferred for the artistic or publishing sense, while gráfico is often used for charts.

Arts and publishing: in the publishing and printing sectors, la gráfica refers to the graphic arts, including illustration, typography, lithography, and the reproduction of images. A work produced in that tradition may be called una gráfica. In museums, catalogs, and galleries, gráfica often encompasses works such as engravings, serigrafías, etchings, and other printed images.

Summary: gráfica covers visual representations in art and print, data displays, mathematical graphs, and digital imagery, reflecting its broad role in communication through images.