A linear equation or linear function can be written in the following form called the slope-intercept form.

In this form, $m$ is the slope and $b$ is the $y\text{-}$intercept. These are the general characteristics or parameters of the line. They determine the steepness and the position of the line on the coordinate plane. Consider the following graph.

This line has a slope of $2$ and a $y\text{-}$intercept of $1.$ The equation of the line can be written in slope-intercept form using these values.