A system for specifying points using coordinates measured in some specified way. The simplest coordinate system consists of coordinate axes oriented perpendicularly to each other, known as Cartesian coordinates. Depending on the type of problem under consideration, coordinate systems possessing special properties may allow particularly simple solution. In three dimensions, so-called right-handed coordinate systems are usually chosen by convention, although left-handed coordinate systems are also encountered occasionally.

coordinates | curvilinear coordinates | cyclidic coordinates | left-handed coordinate system | orthogonal coordinate system | right-handed coordinate system | skew coordinate system