What is direct evidence?

Direct evidence is defined as proof that directly establishes a fact without the need for additional inference or interpretation. This type of evidence straightforwardly supports a claim or assertion, lending clarity and immediacy to the argument being made. For instance, in a legal context, if a witness testifies to having seen a crime occur, that testimony serves as direct evidence of the event because it directly relates to the fact being established.

The other options describe forms of evidence that differ from the direct approach. For example, proof requiring interpretation involves some level of analysis or deduction, which is not the case with direct evidence. Indirect evidence leads to a conclusion through circumstantial means, making it less direct than the type of evidence being defined here. Lastly, while evidence gathered from a witness can be direct, it is not an inherent characteristic of direct evidence itself, as direct evidence can also encompass physical objects or documents.