Vectors
Vector – a way of representing objects and images in computer graphics based on the use of geometrical primitives such as points, lines, splines and polygons. The term is used as opposed to raster graphics, which represents an image as a matrix of fixed size, consisting of dots (pixels) with its parameters.
To create an image of the vector format to be displayed on a raster device used converters, hardware or software (built-in video card). The vast majority of the modern computer video displays, by virtue of the principles used to construct images are intended for display in raster format.
In addition, there is a narrow class of devices exclusively oriented to display vector data. These include vector scan monitors, plotters, as well as some types of laser projectors. The term “vector” is used primarily in the context of two-dimensional computer graphics.
Vector graphics editors typically allow you to rotate, move, reflect, stretch, chamfering, perform basic affine transformations on objects, change z-order and combine the primitives into more complex objects. More sophisticated transformations include Boolean operations on closed shapes: union, complement, intersection, etc.
Vector graphics are ideal for simple or composite drawings that need to be hardware-independent, or do not need photorealism. For example, PostScript and PDF use the model of vector graphics.