Radiation comes out of the laser in a certain direction, and spreads at a defined divergence angle (q) (see figure 1.8, and example 1.2).
This angular spreading of a laser beam is very small compared to other sources of electromagnetic radiation, and described by a small divergence angle (of the order of milli-radians).

In chapter 7, laser radiation characteristics are discussed in more detail, and different methods for measuring beam divergence are described.
In figure 1.8, a comparison is made between the radiation out of a laser, and the radiation out of a standard lamp.

Figure 1.8: comparison between the light out of a laser, and the light out of an incandescent lamp