A compass is a tool for navigation and orientation that shows the direction relative to the geographic "base direction" or "point". Usually, a chart called a compass rose shows the north, South, East and west directions on the compass surface as abbreviations. When using the compass, the rose can be aligned with the corresponding geographic direction, for example, the "n" mark on the rose actually points to the north. Usually, in addition to or sometimes in place of roses, an angle marker in degrees is displayed on the compass. The North corresponds to zero degree, and the angle increases clockwise, so it is 90 degrees in the East, 180 degrees in the South and 270 degrees in the West. These numbers enable the compass to display azimuth or azimuth, which is usually indicated in this symbol.

The magnetic compass was first invented as a divination device in the Han Dynasty (around 206 BC), and later adopted by the Chinese in the Song Dynasty in the 11th century. The first use of the compass recorded in Western Europe and the Islamic world occurred in the early 13th century.