Ex: You live in the north east and you are trying to get home from the bus stop you would take your compass out and turn toward the north then you would see the E on the compass and walk that direction.
Ex: you go on your normal jog outside but you take a wrong turn and get lost you live on the south west side of town in south Africa you take out your compass turn until the needle faces the S when you see the W sign on the compass walk that direction