Cross section (geometry)

In geometry, a cross section is the intersection of a body in 2-dimensional space with a line, or of a body in 3-dimensional space with a plane, etc. More plainly, when cutting an object into slices one gets many parallel cross sections.

With computed axial tomography, computers construct cross sections from x-ray data.

A cross section is a common method of depicting the internal arrangement of a 3-dimensional object in two dimensions. It is often used in technical drawing and is traditionally crosshatched. The style of crosshatching indicates the type of material the section passes through.

A 3-D view of a beverage-can stove with a cross section in yellow.

A 2-D cross-sectional view of a compression seal.