system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: How do vector graphics work so that they can be scaled to any size?
gpt
With bitmap images, the computer is told "the pixel at coordinate *x, y* is color *n*." Zooming just means each grid looks bigger and more block-like.

With vector images, the computer is given detailed instructions for the overall image, not just point by point. In effect, the computer is told, "Draw a line of color *n* with length *l* at an angle *a*" (or curves with diameters, etc). It's dealing with step-by-step overall instructions, not just individual coordinates.

When you zoom in on an image like this, it's just following the same instructions, but since the instructions are independent of the individual pixels, it can provide more detail, as well.