The points where a graph crosses the $x\text{-}$ and $y\text{-}$axes are called the $x\text{-}$intercept and $y\text{-}$intercept, respectively.

Sometimes, only one coordinate of these points is referenced. For example, since the $x\text{-}$intercept lies at $(a,0),$ it can be said that $x=a.$ The same is true for the $y\text{-}$intercept $(0,b),$ $y=b.$ A relation can have several intercepts; a function can have multiple $x\text{-}$intercepts, but it can only have one $y\text{-}$intercept.