The polarization state of a vector beam is distributed on the beam cross-section in accordance to certain patterns.In a narrow sense, a vector beam is a light beam that possesses only polarization vortices and lacks phase vortices, while a vector vortex beam is a light beam that possesses both polarization vortices and phase vortices. Vector beam is a beam with orbital angular momentum, whereas vector vortex beam is not.

Vector beam and vector vortex beam are extensively used in fields including laser processing, super-resolution imaging, optical micro-manipulation, and optical communication.In the study of vector optical fields, passive method is a better option for manipulating various parameters of optical field.