Gradients

Gradient in color science

In color science, a color gradient (also known as a color ramp or a color progression) specifies a range of position-dependent colors, usually used to fill a region. In assigning colors to a set of values, a gradient is a continuous colormap, a type of color scheme. In computer graphics, the term swatch has come to mean a palette of active colors.

Gradients in math

In vector calculus, the gradient of a scalar-valued differentiable function f of several variables is the vector field (or vector-valued function) ∇ f whose value at a point p gives the direction and the rate of fastest increase. The gradient transforms like a vector under change of basis of the space of variables of f.