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Wayfinding vs Pathfinding - What's the difference?

wayfinding | pathfinding |

In biology terms the difference between wayfinding and pathfinding

is that wayfinding is the ability of a person or animal to orientate itself and to navigate; the process used by a person or animal for orienting itself and navigating while pathfinding is the finding of a path to a destination, such as by neuronal axons or developing cells.

wayfinding

Alternative forms

* way-finding

Noun

(-)
  • (biology) The ability of a person or animal to orientate itself and to navigate; the process used by a person or animal for orienting itself and navigating.
  • * 2009 July 8, Kristi Oloffson, " Why We Get Lost," Time (retrieved 9 May 2014):
  • And that difference in style is often cast as being part of the basis of gender differences in wayfinding . People say that women are more likely to navigate with landmarks and men are more likely to navigate using the cardinal directions.

    Usage notes

    * Often used attributively to mean "of or pertaining to orienting and navigating", as in: :* 2014' May 2, Nathaniel Axtell, " Sign of the times: TDA plans '''wayfinding program to guide tourism," ''blueridgenow.com (retrieved 9 May 2014): ::: Buncombe County’s Tourism Development Authority unveiled its $1.65 million wayfinding program in 2009, consisting of more than 300 signs directing visitors to nearly 90 attractions, public spaces, historic sites and other destinations.

    References

    *

    pathfinding

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • (computing) The plotting by a computer application of the best route between two points
  • (biology) The finding of a path to a destination, such as by neuronal axons or developing cells