An octahedron is a polyhedron with eight triangular faces, twelve edges, and six vertices. It is the three-dimensional shape most commonly associated with two square pyramids joined at their bases, creating a balanced and symmetrical structure. Like the tetrahedron, the regular octahedron is one of the five Platonic solids, meaning all its faces are equilateral triangles of the same size, and all edges and angles are equal. This symmetry gives the octahedron a distinct, uniform appearance.
When visualized, the octahedron looks somewhat like a double pyramid. Each vertex in a regular octahedron connects to four edges, giving it a high degree of structural stability. It has interesting relationships with other polyhedra: for example, it is the dual of the cube, meaning that if you place a point at the center of each face of a cube and connect those points, you form an octahedron.
