Geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) is a system for defining and communicating engineering tolerances.

  It uses a symbolic language on engineering drawings and computer-generated three- dimensional solid models that explicitly describe nominal geometry and its allowable variation.

  It tells the manufacturing staff and machines what degree of accuracy and precision is needed on each controlled feature of the part.

  GD&T is used to define the nominal (theoretically perfect) geometry of parts and assemblies, to define the allowable variation in form and possible size of individual features, and to define the allowable variation between features.