What term describes characteristics such as grooves, pockets, and holes on a part?

The correct term that describes characteristics such as grooves, pockets, and holes on a part is "features." In manufacturing and engineering, features refer to specific geometric elements or attributes of a component that can have implications for its function, aesthetics, and manufacturability. Features include not just the visible shapes and forms such as grooves and holes, but also any other defined characteristics that impact how the part interacts with other components or systems.

Understanding features is crucial for processes like machining and designing because they dictate how tooling interacts with the material and influence the strength and overall performance of the part in its intended application. This term is widely used in CAD (Computer-Aided Design) and CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) contexts when referencing specific design elements that need to be accurately represented and manufactured.

By contrast, the other options do not capture the same specificity about the physical characteristics of a part. Attributes may refer to general qualities or properties, sections may indicate portions or segments of a part, and components typically refer to distinct items that make up an assembly, but none encapsulate the notion of physical characteristics quite like features do.