In Illustrator, what defines a vector path and how is its shape adjusted?

• A. A vector path is a line defined by anchor points; anchor points control direction and curves via handles; manipulate by selecting and adjusting points.
• B. A vector path is a raster line; anchor points set color; use brush tool.
• C. A vector path is a shape drawn with paint; uses bitmap data to create curves.
• D. A vector path is a path made of straight lines only; curves cannot be modified.

Answer: (A)

In Illustrator, a vector path is defined by anchor points that mark the path’s vertices, and the direction handles that extend from those points shape the curves. The handles control the direction and amount of curvature leaving each anchor. To adjust the shape, you select an anchor point and move it to reposition the vertex, or grab and drag the handles to modify the curve’s tension and direction. This combination lets you create sharp corners or smooth, flowing curves, all while the path remains scalable and crisp because it’s defined mathematically rather than by pixels. Tools like the Direct Selection tool and the Pen tool are used to manipulate these points and handles. The other descriptions describe raster concepts or restrict curves to straight lines, which don’t reflect how vector paths are edited in Illustrator.