When a quadratic function is graphed what is the name of the shape formed?

When a quadratic function is graphed, the shape formed is called a parabola. This U-shaped curve can open either upwards or downwards, depending on the coefficient of the quadratic term. The vertex of the parabola represents the highest or lowest point of the graph, and the axis of symmetry is a vertical line that divides the parabola into two mirror-image halves.