SECANT AND TANGENT

SECANT: A line which intersects a circle in two distinct points is called a Secant of the circle. For e.g. If line L intersects the circle in only one point then the line is said to be a tangent to the circle and the point is called the point of contact to the tangent.

TANGENT: A tangent to a circle is a line that intersects the circle in exactly one point. The point is called the point of contact of the tangent and the line is said to touch the circle at this point.

{Note:- The point of contact is the only point which is common to the tangent and the circle and every other point on the tangent lies outside the circle. Thus, of all points on a tangent to a circle, the point of contact is nearest to the centre of the circle}