scalars
Numbers without direction
Scalars are quantities that have magnitude but no direction—numbers that represent size or amount without indicating orientation in space.
In physics and mathematics, temperature, mass, and speed are scalars, contrasted with vectors like velocity or force that include directional components.
In programming, a scalar is a single value rather than an array or complex data structure: The function returns a scalar, not a list.
Measurable amount present
- valueImportance or price
- numberSymbol representing quantity
- amountTotal quantity present
- sizePhysical extent or dimensions
intensity · amplitude · temperature · mass · speed · energy · density · pressure
Area of specialty
- coefficientsNumerical multipliers in expressions
- eigenvalueScalar satisfying determinant equation
- real numbersComplete ordered field
- complex numbersNumbers containing imaginary components
dimension · basis · matrix · determinant · trace · transformation · polynomial · dot product
Remaining always constant
- contractionReduction in size
- indexAlphabetical guide to contents
- componentElement of a system
- field theoryStudy of spatial phenomena
Heat-measuring instrument
- barometerInstrument gauging atmospheric pressure
- speedometerVehicle velocity display
- odometerVehicle distance recorder
- altimeterInstrument measuring elevation
gauge · calipers · micrometer · stopwatch · graduated · quantify · readout · calibration
quantity
Measurable amount present
size · intensity · amplitude · temperature · mass · speed · energy · density · pressure · volume
field
Area of specialty
- coefficientsNumerical multipliers in expressions
- eigenvalueScalar satisfying determinant equation
- real numbersComplete ordered field
complex numbers · dimension · basis · matrix · determinant · trace · transformation · polynomial · dot product · multiplication
invariant
Remaining always constant
- contractionReduction in size
- indexAlphabetical guide to contents
- componentElement of a system
field theory · transformation · covariant · metric · manifold
thermometer
Heat-measuring instrument
- barometerInstrument gauging atmospheric pressure
- speedometerVehicle velocity display
- odometerVehicle distance recorder
altimeter · gauge · calipers · micrometer · stopwatch · graduated · quantify · readout · calibration · precision
variable
Prone to fluctuation
double · string · primitive · datatype · constant · literal · parameter · assignment · declaration · immutable
- linear algebramatrix, linear equation, vectors, linear function, matrices
- Perlmy, use, sub, print, if
- tensor algebratensors, vectors, components, dyads, Christoffel symbols
- geometryangles, circles, angle, shapes, lines
- math operationsaddition, adding, subtraction, subtracting, multiplication
- math termsnumbers, plus or minus, linear growth, square, operand