h-method:- More accurate information is obtained by increasing the number of elements. The name for the h-method is borrowed from mathematics. The variable h is used to specify the step size in numeric integration. If a part is modeled with a very course mesh, then the stress distribution across the part will be very inaccurate. In order to increase the accuracy of the solution, more elements must be added. This means creating a finer mesh.

p-method:- The p in p-method stands for polynomial. Large elements and complex shape functions are used in p-method problems. In order to increase the accuracy of the solution, the complexity of the shape function must be increased. Increasing the polynomial order increases the complexity of the shape function. The mesh does not need to be changed when using the p-method.