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Cartesian product
This term is a technical mathematical expression used primarily in set theory and computer science. It describes a specific operation that generates a set of all possible combinations between two or more sets, emphasizing the importance of order within each pair.
Because it is a specialized term of art, it is almost exclusively found in academic, technical, or formal logical contexts. It is not used in casual conversation unless the speaker is discussing mathematics or database operations, such as a cross join in SQL.
Meanings
In mathematics, specifically set theory, the set of all possible ordered pairs where the first element is taken from one set and the second element is taken from another set.
The Cartesian product of set A and set B consists of all pairs (a, b) such that a belongs to A and b belongs to B.