Limit vs. Cap — What's the Difference?
By Maham Liaqat & Fiza Rafique — Updated on April 16, 2024
Limit often denotes a maximum point allowed or achievable, such as a speed limit; cap typically refers to an upper boundary set on numbers or values, like a salary cap.
Difference Between Limit and Cap
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
A limit generally represents a boundary or threshold that should not be exceeded, which can apply to various contexts such as physical limits in sports or mental endurance. On the other hand, a cap is often used to specify a maximum limit placed on financial or numerical values, such as budget caps or spending caps in organizations.
In legal contexts, limits are often set to define the scope of permissible actions, such as age limits for voting. Conversely, caps are frequently implemented in economic policies to control costs or prices, such as rent caps that limit how much landlords can charge tenants.
Limits can also be intrinsic, referring to the maximum potential or capacity of an object or system, like the limit of endurance in humans. Meanwhile, caps are typically imposed externally and are used to regulate behavior or allocation in systems, such as emission caps in environmental regulations.
When it comes to mathematics, a limit refers to the value that a function or sequence "approaches" as the input or index approaches some value. Whereas in finance, a cap might refer to an upper limit on the interest rate of an adjustable-rate mortgage.
In technology, data limits may restrict the amount of data that can be used or transferred, impacting user experience. Caps, on the other hand, are often used to describe limits on resources like CPU or bandwidth usage to ensure fair usage among multiple users.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Point beyond which one should not go
Upper boundary, often for regulation
Usage Contexts
Broad, varies by field
More specific, often financial or legal
Type of Boundary
Can be intrinsic or imposed
Typically imposed
Common Fields
Law, sports, math, technology
Finance, economics, environmental policy
Impact
Defines maximum capability
Regulates distribution or usage
Compare with Definitions
Limit
Maximum speed allowed on a road.
The speed limit on this highway is 55 mph.
Cap
Restriction on price increases.
The government placed a cap on gas prices during the crisis.
Limit
Boundary in decision-making.
The company sets strict limits on personal phone use at work.
Cap
Upper limit on financial investments.
The cap on annual IRA contributions is $6,000.
Limit
Mathematical concept approaching a value.
The sequence approaches a limit as n tends to infinity.
Cap
Upper boundary in salaries.
The salary cap prevents teams from exceeding a set total pay.
Limit
The greatest amount one can achieve.
She pushed her limits in the marathon today.
Cap
Limit on resource usage.
The data cap on your mobile plan is 10GB per month.
Limit
Restriction in capabilities.
The limit of this machine is 100 units per hour.
Cap
Maximum allowable emissions.
The cap on carbon emissions is set to reduce by 10% each year.
Limit
The point, edge, or line beyond which something ends, may not go, or is not allowed
The 12-mile fishing limit.
The limit of my patience.
Cap
A cap is a kind of soft and flat headgear, usually with a visor. Caps have crowns that fit very close to the head.
Limit
Limits The boundary surrounding a specific area; bounds
Within the city limits.
Cap
A kind of soft, flat hat without a brim and typically with a peak
A man wearing a raincoat and a flat cap
Her cap of dark hair
Limit
Something that restricts or restrains; a restraint
The child needs to have limits put on his behavior.
Cap
A protective lid or cover for an object such as a bottle, the point of a pen, or a camera lens
A glass bottle with a screw cap
A lens cap from a camera
Limit
The greatest or least amount, number, or extent allowed or possible
A withdrawal limit of $200.
No minimum age limit.
Cap
An upper limit imposed on spending or borrowing
He raised the cap on local authority spending
Limit
(Games) The largest amount which may be bet at one time in games of chance.
Cap
A contraceptive diaphragm.
Limit
A number or point L that is approached by a function f(x) as x approaches a if, for every positive number ε, there exists a number δ such that |f(x)-L| < ε if |x-a| < δ.
Cap
The broad upper part of the fruiting body of most mushrooms and toadstools, at the top of a stem and bearing gills or pores.
Limit
A number or point L that is approached by a sequence bn if, for every positive number ε, there exists a number N such that |bn-L| < ε if n > N. Also called limit point.
Cap
Short for percussion cap
Limit
(Informal) One that is intolerable, remarkable, or extreme in some other way
"That's the limit!" the babysitter exclaimed after the child spilled a glass of milk.
Cap
Short for capitalization
Small-cap stocks
Mid-cap companies
Limit
To confine or restrict with a limit
Let's limit the discussion to what is doable. The offer limits us to three for a dollar.
Cap
Put a lid or cover on
He capped his pen
Limit
A restriction; a bound beyond which one may not go.
There are several existing limits to executive power.
Two drinks is my limit tonight.
Cap
Provide a fitting climax or conclusion to
He capped a memorable season by becoming champion of champions
Limit
(mathematics) A value to which a sequence converges. Equivalently, the common value of the upper limit and the lower limit of a sequence: if the upper and lower limits are different, then the sequence has no limit (i.e., does not converge).
The sequence of reciprocals has zero as its limit.
Cap
Place a limit or restriction on (prices, expenditure, or borrowing)
Council budgets will be capped
Limit
(mathematics) Any of several abstractions of this concept of limit.
Category theory defines a very general concept of limit.
Cap
Be chosen as a member of a particular sports team, especially a national one
He was capped ten times by England
Limit
(category theory) The cone of a diagram through which any other cone of that same diagram can factor uniquely.
Cap
Confer a university degree on.
Limit
(poker) Fixed limit.
Cap
A usually soft and close-fitting head covering, either having no brim or with a visor.
Limit
The final, utmost, or furthest point; the border or edge.
The limit of a walk, of a town, or of a country
Cap
A special head covering worn to indicate rank, occupation, or membership in a particular group
A cardinal's cap.
A sailor's cap.
Limit
(obsolete) The space or thing defined by limits.
Cap
An academic mortarboard. Used especially in the phrase cap and gown.
Limit
(obsolete) That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period itself; the full time or extent.
Cap
A protective cover or seal, especially one that closes off an end or a tip
A bottle cap.
A 35-millimeter lens cap.
Limit
(obsolete) A restriction; a check or curb; a hindrance.
Cap
A crown for covering or sealing a tooth.
Limit
A determining feature; a distinguishing characteristic.
Cap
A truck cap.
Limit
(cycling) The first group of riders to depart in a handicap race.
Cap
A tread for a worn pneumatic tire.
Limit
A person who is exasperating, intolerable, astounding, etc.
Cap
A fitted covering used to seal a well or large pipe.
Limit
(poker) Being a fixed limit game.
Cap
Chiefly Southern US See eye.
Limit
(transitive) To restrict; not to allow to go beyond a certain bound, to set boundaries.
We need to limit the power of the executive.
I'm limiting myself to two drinks tonight.
Cap
A summit or top, as of a mountain.
Limit
To have a limit in a particular set.
The sequence limits on the point a.
Cap
An upper limit; a ceiling
Placed a cap on mortgage rates.
Limit
(obsolete) To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region.
A limiting friar
Cap
(Architecture) The capital of a column.
Limit
That which terminates, circumscribes, restrains, or confines; the bound, border, or edge; the utmost extent; as, the limit of a walk, of a town, of a country; the limits of human knowledge or endeavor.
As eager of the chase, the maidBeyond the forest's verdant limits strayed.
Cap
The top part, or pileus, of a mushroom.
Limit
The space or thing defined by limits.
The archdeacon hath divided itInto three limits very equally.
Cap
A calyptra.
Limit
That which terminates a period of time; hence, the period itself; the full time or extent.
The dateless limit of thy dear exile.
The limit of your lives is out.
Cap
A percussion cap.
Limit
A restriction; a check; a curb; a hindrance.
I prithee, give no limits to my tongue.
Cap
A small explosive charge enclosed in paper for use in a toy gun.
Limit
A determining feature; a distinguishing characteristic; a differentia.
Cap
Any of several sizes of writing paper, such as foolscap.
Limit
A determinate quantity, to which a variable one continually approaches, and may differ from it by less than any given difference, but to which, under the law of variation, the variable can never become exactly equivalent.
Cap
(Sports) An appearance by a player in an international soccer game, traditionally rewarded with a hat.
Limit
To apply a limit to, or set a limit for; to terminate, circumscribe, or restrict, by a limit or limits; as, to limit the acreage of a crop; to limit the issue of paper money; to limit one's ambitions or aspirations; to limit the meaning of a word.
Cap
A capital letter.
Limit
To beg, or to exercise functions, within a certain limited region; as, a limiting friar.
Cap
Capital
Venture cap.
Limit
The greatest possible degree of something;
What he did was beyond the bounds of acceptable behavior
To the limit of his ability
Cap
Capitalization
Market cap.
Limit
Final or latest limiting point
Cap
To cover, protect, or seal with a cap.
Limit
The boundary of a specific area
Cap
To award a special cap to as a sign of rank or achievement
Capped the new women nurses at graduation.
Limit
As far as something can go
Cap
To lie over or on top of; cover
Hills capped with snow.
Limit
The mathematical value toward which a function goes as the independent variable approaches infinity
Cap
To apply the finishing touch to; complete
Cap a meal with dessert.
Limit
The greatest amount of something that is possible or allowed;
There are limits on the amount you can bet
It is growing rapidly with no limitation in sight
Cap
To follow with something better; surpass or outdo
Capped his last trick with a disappearing act that brought the audience to its feet.
Limit
Place limits on (extent or access);
Restrict the use of this parking lot
Limit the time you can spend with your friends
Cap
To set an upper limit on
Decided to cap cost-of-living increases.
Limit
Restrict or confine,
I limit you to two visits to the pub a day
Cap
To capitalize.
Limit
Decide upon or fix definitely;
Fix the variables
Specify the parameters
Cap
A close-fitting hat, either brimless or peaked.
The children were all wearing caps to protect them from the sun.
Cap
A special hat to indicate rank, occupation, etc.
Cap
An academic mortarboard.
Cap
A protective cover or seal.
He took the cap off the bottle and splashed himself with some cologne.
Cap
A crown for covering a tooth.
He had golden caps on his teeth.
Cap
The summit of a mountain, etc.
There was snow on the cap of the mountain.
Cap
An artificial upper limit or ceiling.
We should put a cap on the salaries, to keep them under control.
Cap
The top part of a mushroom.
Cap
(toy) A small amount of percussive explosive in a paper strip or plastic cup for use in a toy gun.
Billy spent all morning firing caps with his friends, re-enacting storming the beach at Normandy.
Cap
A small explosive device used to detonate a larger charge of explosives.
He wired the cap to the bundle of dynamite, then detonated it remotely.
Cap
(slang) A bullet used to shoot someone.
Cap
A lie or exaggeration.
No cap
Cap
(sport) A place on a national team; an international appearance.
Cap
(obsolete) The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
Cap
(obsolete) A respectful uncovering of the head.
Cap
(zoology) The whole top of the head of a bird from the base of the bill to the nape of the neck.
Cap
(architecture) The uppermost of any assemblage of parts.
The cap of column, door, etc.; a capital, coping, cornice, lintel, or plate
Cap
Something covering the top or end of a thing for protection or ornament.
Cap
(nautical) A collar of iron or wood used in joining spars, as the mast and the topmast, the bowsprit and the jib boom; also, a covering of tarred canvas at the end of a rope.
Cap
(geometry) A portion of a spherical or other convex surface.
Cap
A large size of writing paper.
Flat cap; foolscap; legal cap
Cap
(finance) Capitalization.
Cap
(informal) An uppercase or capital letter.
Cap
(electronics) A capacitor.
Parasitic caps.
I had to replace the caps in that thing to get it to work again.
Cap
(colloquial) A recording or screenshot.
Anyone have a cap of the games last night?
Cap
(slang) A capsule of a drug.
Cap
(colloquial) A capitalist.
Cap
Capillary
Cap
(obsolete) A wooden drinking-bowl with two handles.
Cap
(transitive) To cover or seal with a cap.
Cap
(transitive) To award a cap as a mark of distinction.
Cap
(transitive) To lie over or on top of something.
Cap
(transitive) To surpass or outdo.
Cap
(transitive) To set an upper limit on something.
Cap wages.
Cap
(transitive) To make something even more wonderful at the end.
That really capped my day.
Cap
To select a player to play for a specified side.
Cap
To shoot (someone) with a firearm.
If he don't get outta my hood, I'm gonna cap his ass.
In a school shooting, where some kid caps a bunch of other kids, where did he get the weapon? From a family member, probably their gun cabinet.
Cap
To lie; to tell a lie.
Cap
To select to play for the national team.
Peter Shilton is the most capped English footballer.
Cap
To salute by uncovering the head respectfully.
Cap
To deprive of a cap.
Cap
To convert text to uppercase.
Cap
(transitive) To take a screenshot or to record a copy of a video.
Cap
A covering for the head
Cap
The top, or uppermost part; the chief.
Thou art the cap of all the fools alive.
Cap
A respectful uncovering of the head.
He that will give a cap and make a leg in thanks.
Cap
The whole top of the head of a bird from the base of the bill to the nape of the neck.
Cap
Anything resembling a cap in form, position, or use
Cap
A large size of writing paper; as, flat cap; foolscap; legal cap.
Cap
To cover with a cap, or as with a cap; to provide with a cap or cover; to cover the top or end of; to place a cap upon the proper part of; as, to cap a post; to cap a gun.
The bones next the joint are capped with a smooth cartilaginous substance.
Cap
To deprive of cap.
Cap
To complete; to crown; to bring to the highest point or consummation; as, to cap the climax of absurdity.
Cap
To salute by removing the cap.
Tom . . . capped the proctor with the profoundest of bows.
Cap
To match; to mate in contest; to furnish a complement to; as, to cap text; to cap proverbs.
Now I have him under girdle I'll cap verses with him to the end of the chapter.
Cap
To uncover the head respectfully.
Cap
A tight-fitting headdress
Cap
A top (as for a bottle)
Cap
A mechanical or electrical explosive device or a small amount of explosive; can be used to initiate the reaction of a disrupting explosive
Cap
Something serving as a cover or protection
Cap
A fruiting structure resembling an umbrella that forms the top of a stalked fleshy fungus such as a mushroom
Cap
An upper limit on what is allowed;
They established a cap for prices
Cap
Dental appliance consisting of an artificial crown for a tooth
Cap
The upper part of a column that supports the entablature
Cap
Lie at the top of;
Snow capped the mountains
Cap
Restrict the number or amount of;
We had to cap the number of people we can accept into our club
Common Curiosities
How do limits apply in mathematics?
In mathematics, a limit describes the value a function approaches as the input approaches some point.
What is the main difference between a limit and a cap?
A limit is a broader term for a threshold that shouldn't be exceeded, while a cap specifically refers to an upper limit, often set for regulatory purposes.
Are caps always financial?
While often financial, caps can also apply to other regulated aspects like emissions or resource usage.
Can a limit be intrinsic?
Yes, limits can be intrinsic, such as the physical limits of a material.
What is a salary cap?
A salary cap is an upper limit on the total amount a team can spend on player salaries.
Can limits be adjusted?
Yes, limits such as credit limits can be adjusted based on circumstances and behavior.
Why do governments impose caps?
Governments impose caps to control or regulate growth and ensure fairness and sustainability, such as in housing costs or pollution.
Is a speed limit a type of cap?
While similar, a speed limit is generally considered a safety regulation, distinct from a cap which is often used for controlling quantities or costs.
What role do caps play in environmental policy?
Caps in environmental policy, like carbon caps, are crucial for controlling pollution and encouraging sustainable practices.
How does a cap affect market behavior?
Caps can influence market behavior by setting boundaries that can lead to strategic business adjustments or competitive practices.
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Written by
Maham Liaqat
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
