Fabric designs are repeated over and over again along the length of a bolt of fabric.
Sometimes the same design is used for the entire length of fabric or the design is scattered, so your eye does not see a repeat.
If a fabric has a repeat, you can see a definite beginning and end to the design. Common repeated design lengths for quilt fabrics are 12, 24, 36 and 42 inches. In quilting, repeat fabrics are many times sold as panels.