In which direction does a half-wave dipole antenna radiate the strongest signal?

A basic half-wave dipole antenna does not radiate equally in all directions. Instead, it creates a radiation pattern that looks somewhat like a figure-eight or a doughnut when viewed in free space, with the antenna wire passing straight through the center hole. The strongest portion of this radiated signal extends outward at a 90-degree angle from the wire itself. This perpendicular direction is referred to as 'broadside' to the antenna. In contrast, very little signal is radiated straight off the ends of the antenna wire, creating what are known as 'nulls' in those directions.