# Result Explanation

There are various result-types in openCFS, which can be specified in the xml-file (node-, element-, region-, surfaceElement-, surfaceRegion-results):

<storeResults>
<elemResult type="">
<allRegions/>
</elemResult>
<nodeResult type="">
<allRegions/>
</nodeResult>
<regionResult type="">
<allRegions/>
</regionResult>
<regionResult type="">
<allRegions/>
</regionResult>
<surfElemResult type="">
<allRegions/>
</surfElemResult>
<surfRegionResult type="">
<allRegions/>
</surfRegionResult>
</storeResults>


The type of your desired quantity depends on the type of the FE-result:

• A primary result corresponds to the degrees of freedom in the FE system. For example: The temperature $T$ in the heat conduction PDE is a primary result. The output is either on nodes (for nodal elements) or on elements (for edge elements).
• A derived result is computed from the primary by applying a certain operator, e.g., gradient, curl, divergence. For example: The heat flux density is the gradient of the temperature $-\nabla T$ in the heat conduction PDE. The output is on elements (for nodal as well as edge elements)
• An integrated result is computed by integrating a result over a volume. For example, integrating the heat flux density over a volume, results in the total heat flux. The output is stored in .hist files in the history-folder.