When referring to the cartesian plane, the x-axis or horizontal axis refers to the horizontal width of a two or three-dimensional object. The illustration shows the x-axis as going left-to-right and intersecting both the y-axis and z-axis.
An example of what uses the x-axis is a computer mouse. As the mouse moves left or right, the x-axis value increases and decreases, allowing the computer to know where the mouse cursor is on the screen.
Other examples of an x-axis
Below are a few other examples of how the x-axis is used on a computer.
JavaScript x-axis mouse position
Below is a JavaScript that shows you the mouse’s x-axis and y-axis position as you move your mouse pointer in the screen area.
If you’re on a smartphone or tablet, tap your finger to get position of the tap.
Mouse x-axis position. Mouse y-axis position.
- Help position and keep track of the mouse cursor on the screen.
- A character or object in a computer game that moves left and right has an x-axis value that determines its location on the screen.
- With a chart, the y-axis is the vertical data that is often on the right-side of the chart.
- In computer graphics, if you wanted to draw a horizontal line, the x-axis can determine the start and end point of the line. Drawing a two-dimensional object would require only the x-axis and y-axis. However, a 3D object would require a z-axis.
- Other input devices, like a joystick, also use an x-axis to control objects, such as a tank or airplane.
Absolute coordinates, Axis, y-axis, z-axis
