X-Y Matrix

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What Does X-Y Matrix Mean?

An X-Y matrix is a two-dimensional structure in which the x-axis denotes horizontal rows and y-axis denotes vertical columns. An X-Y matrix is the most basic orientation for two-dimensional structures and spaces, such as graphs, screens of digital watches and calculators, led displays and two-dimensional graphical images.

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An X-Y matrix is also known as a 2-D matrix.

Techopedia Explains X-Y Matrix

The X-Y matrix system is the traditional system for plotting coordinates on a two-dimensional plane. This system does not define a structure in space, but only a line or a point can be described with the data in an X-Y matrix. An advantage of using 2-D graphics in computing is the usage of less memory space. Hence, devices with little memory or inefficient data processing can utilize the X-Y matrix system to save memory and processing speed.

In addition to the X-Y matrix, there is also an X-Y-Z matrix which represents three dimensions.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.