vonalzó

Vonalzó is a straightedge or ruler used in geometry, drafting, engineering and crafts to draw straight lines and to measure distances. A vonalzó typically has a straight, rigid edge with graduations printed or etched in metric units—millimeters and centimeters. The simplest vonalzó is unmarked, while most educational and drafting rulers include markings. Common lengths are 15 cm, 30 cm and 60 cm, with larger carpenter’s rulers reaching a meter or more. Materials vary and include wood, plastic (often transparent acrylic) and metal; some models feature non-slip coatings or protective housings to improve stability during use.

In use, a vonalzó is laid along a line to guide drawing or to transfer a measurement from a scale. It is frequently employed with other drafting tools, such as set squares and T-squares, to construct perpendicular or parallel lines and to align components in technical drawings. Beyond drawing, it serves as a simple measuring device when marked, allowing quick assessments of distances along a straight path.

In education and professional practice, vonalzók support basic geometry, technical drawing, carpentry and architecture. The term is Hungarian and generally corresponds to a ruler or straightedge in English, with the distinction that a marked vonalzó also functions as a scale, whereas a plain straightedge lacks measurement marks.