Coordinate geometry, also known as analytic geometry, is a branch of mathematics that uses algebraic equations to describe geometric shapes and their properties. It establishes a connection between algebra and geometry through the use of a coordinate system, allowing geometric problems to be solved using algebraic methods and vice versa.

The Cartesian coordinate system, developed by René Descartes, is the most commonly used system. It represents points in a plane using ordered pairs (x, y) or in space using ordered triples (x, y, z). This powerful mathematical tool is fundamental to many fields including physics, engineering, computer graphics, and data visualization.