Abstract: Computations of x- and y-components of the horizontal derivatives (gradients) from an anomaly grid (withx- and y-axes directed east and north, respectively) still take an important place in potential field data-processingtechniques. These techniques may successfully bring out some significant subtle details that are masked in theanomaly maps. Particularly abrupt lateral changes in densities and magnetizations effectively aid geological mappingand these changes may be traced by some derivative-based techniques without specifying any prior informationabout the nature of the potential field source bodies. Hence derivative-based techniques are regularly used inthe visual interpretation of potential field anomalies. It is well known that computation of horizontal derivativescan be performed through either fast Fourier transform (i.e. in wave number domain) or simple finite-differenceequations (i.e. in space domain) to outline the geological source boundaries (edges). Numerous studies includingthe use of either one have been recorded in the literature so far. In this study, comprehensive comparisons of thesolutions obtained from those techniques have been made using both synthetically produced and real gravity datasets. Synthetic applications have been performed using both noise-free and noisy gravity data sets for two differentdepth-to-source scenarios. Thus not only the signal-to-noise ratios but also the depth-to-source conditions have beenanalyzed to test the performance of those approaches. Additionally, a real data experiment has been achieved usingregional Bouguer gravity anomalies from a portion of a well-known geological setting, the Aegean Graben System(Western Anatolia, Turkey).