What is north south east and west

North, south, east, and west are the four cardinal directions used to describe orientation and location. On most maps, north is shown at the top, south at the bottom, east to the right, and west to the left.

How it works

East and west are opposite directions, as are north and south. The intermediate directions northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest describe positions between them.

Example or application

If you face north, east is on your right and west is on your left. A compass can help identify magnetic directions, while a map’s grid may use geographic north.

Scope and limits

Map orientation is not universal; some maps place other directions at the top. Magnetic north and true north can differ.

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