A straight line is a one-dimensional geometric object. However, when a straight line is curved (bent), it extends and lies on a two-dimensional planar surface, although it is a one-dimensional object.

Hence, curvature on a spatial dimension deforms and directs local coordinates towards the other two spatial directions. For visualization, a bending on X dimension can be directed towards +y, -y, +z, -z; or a twist on X dimension can be clockwise or counter clockwise (+z → +y, +z → -y).

Spatial direction of the deformation has important consequences when strain packages interfere (e.g. polarization) with each other. Additionally, formation of the knots is dependent on the variety of the directions of the deformation at each individual dimension.