The original meaning of gradient is vector, which means that the directional derivative of the function at that point gets the maximum value in that direction, that is, the function changes the fastest in that direction (the direction of gradient) at that point, and the rate of change is the largest (the modulus of gradient).

Extended data

In vector calculus, the gradient of scalar field is a vector field. The gradient of a point in the scalar field points to the fastest growing direction of the scalar field, and the length of the gradient is the maximum change rate.

In the case of unary real functions, the gradient is only the derivative, or, for linear functions, the slope of a straight line.

The term gradient is sometimes used to indicate slope, that is, the degree of inclination of a surface in a given direction. The slope can be obtained by the point product of the direction gradient and the research direction.

The value of a gradient is sometimes called a gradient.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Gradient