What are the four basic directions on a compass?

The four basic directions on a compass are North, South, East, and West. These cardinal points serve as the foundational references for navigation and map reading. Each direction is positioned at 90-degree angles from the others, creating a cross pattern: North points towards the North Pole, South towards the South Pole, East is perpendicular to the North (to the right when facing North), and West is opposite East (to the left when facing North). This system allows for easy orientation and helps in determining locations and routes on maps or when navigating in the field.

Other directional options mentioned, such as Northeast, Southeast, Southwest, and Northwest, are considered intercardinal or ordinal directions, which fall in between the primary cardinal directions. However, the primary focus of the question is solely on the basic four cardinal directions, making the chosen answer the most accurate.