A compass rose is a figure on a map; a nautical chart or sometimes a paving stone or wall; used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions; 鈥?north; south; east; and west. It is also the term for the graduated markings found on traditional magnetic compasess.

Today; the idea of a compass rose features in almost all navigational systems. Early forms of the compass rose were known as wind roses; since no differentiation was made between a cardinal direction and the winds that emanated from that direction.