在这篇文章内，矢量与标量分别用粗体与斜体显示。例如，位置矢量通常用表示；而其大小则用来表示。

在数学里，笛卡儿坐标系（Cartesian coordinate system），也称直角坐标系，是一种正交坐标系。参阅图1，二维的直角坐标系是由两条相互垂直、0点重合的数轴构成的。在平面内，任何一点的坐标是根据数轴上对应的点的座标设置的。在平面内，任何一点与坐标的对应关系，类似于数轴上点与坐标的对应关系。

采用直角坐标，几何形状可以用代数公式明确的表达出来。几何形状的每一个点的直角坐标必须遵守这代数公式。例如：直线可以标准式、斜截式等式子来表示;一个圆，半径为r，圆心位于(a,b)。圆圈可以用以表示。

A Cartesian coordinate system is a coordinate system that specifies each point uniquely in a plane by a pair of numerical coordinates, which are the signed distances to the point from two fixed perpendicular directed lines, measured in the same unit of length. Each reference line is called a coordinate axis or just axis of the system, and the point where they meet is its origin, usually at ordered pair (0, 0). The coordinates can also be defined as the positions of the perpendicular projections of the point onto the two axes, expressed as signed distances from the origin.