right|100px|thumb|Del operator,represented bythe nabla symbol Del, or nabla, is an operator used in mathematics (particularly in vector calculus) as a vector differential operator, usually represented by the nabla symbol ∇. When applied to a function defined on a one-dimensional domain, it denotes the standard derivative of the function as defined in calculus. When applied to a field (a function defined on a multi-dimensional domain), it may denote any one of three operations depending on the way it is applied: the gradient or (locally) steepest slope of a scalar field (or sometimes of a vector field, as in the Navier–Stokes equations); the divergence of a vector field; or the curl (rotation) of a vector field.
right|100px|thumb|del operatorrepresented bythe nabla symbol del or nabla is an operator used in mathematics (particularly in vector calculus) as a vector differential operator usually represented by the nabla symbol ∇ when applied to a function defined on a one-dimensional domain it denotes the standard derivative of the function as defined in calculus when applied to a field (a function defined on a multi-dimensional domain) it may denote any one of three operations depending on the way it is applied the gradient or (locally) steepest slope of a scalar field (or sometimes of a vector field as in the navier–stokes equations); the divergence of a vector field; or the curl (rotation) of a vector field