A
compass rose, sometimes called a
windrose, or
Rose of the Winds, is a figure on a
compass,
map,
nautical chart, or monument used to display the orientation of the
cardinal directions: North, East, South, and West—and their intermediate points. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on the traditional
magnetic compass. Today, the idea of a compass rose is found on, or featured in, almost all navigation systems, including
nautical charts,
non-directional beacons (NDB),
VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) systems, global-positioning systems (
GPS), and similar equipment.