What is the difference between stroke and fill in Illustrator?

In Adobe Illustrator, the distinction between stroke and fill is fundamental to understanding how shapes and paths are created and manipulated. Stroke refers to the outline or border of a shape—it defines the shape's visible edge and can vary in thickness, color, and style, such as solid, dashed, or dotted lines. On the other hand, fill refers to the color or pattern that occupies the interior of a shape. This means that when you create a closed shape, the fill determines what color or texture is visible inside it.

This differentiation allows artists to create complex designs by manipulating both the outline and interior of shapes independently. For instance, an object can have a vibrant fill color with a contrasting stroke color, enhancing the visual appeal and depth of the graphic.

Other choices present incorrect interpretations of these concepts. One suggests that stroke and fill are reversed, which would lead to confusion in design practices. Another option implies they are identical, neglecting the unique properties that each attribute offers. The final choice erroneously states that stroke can only be applied to paths, while fill can be applied to any object; in reality, both attributes can be applied to various shapes and paths in Illustrator.