![A horizontal line l, with a point P drawn above it, and the perpendicular from P to l drawn, meeting l at the point Q.](/glossary/foot-of-a-perpendicular/images/foot-of-a-perpendicular.png)
For a given line \(l\) and point \(P\), if we draw a line through \(P\) perpendicular to \(l\), then this line will intersect \(l\) at a point \(Q\). The point \(Q\) is called the foot of the perpendicular line.
Similarly, if we draw an altitude of a triangle or another figure, the point where the altitude meets the side to which it is perpendicular is called the foot of the altitude.