Del
In vector calculus, del is a vector differential operator represented by the symbol File:Del.gif.
It is a shorthand for the pseudovector
- [∂/∂x, ∂/∂y, ∂/∂z]
The symbol was introduced by William Rowan Hamilton, and is sometimes called nabla, after the ancient Hebrew instrument which the shape resembles.
The operator can be applied to scalar fields (φ) or vector fields (F), to give:
- Gradient, File:Del.gif φ
- Divergence File:Del.gif · F
- Curl File:Del.gif × F
See Also