Yield Curve 

The graphical relationship between yield and maturity among bonds of different maturities and the same credit quality. This line shows the term structure of interest rates.

Remarks: Bond funds including mutual funds (open-end and closed-end, actively managed and indexed), exchange-traded funds and unit investment trusts offer a convenient and affordable way to invest in a diversified portfolio of bonds, but a bond fund investment can differ from a bond investment in ways that are important to understand.