What term describes the strand of DNA that is synthesized continuously?

The strand of DNA synthesized continuously is the leading strand. DNA polymerases build new DNA only in the 5′-to-3′ direction, and the leading-strand template is oriented so synthesis can proceed in the same direction as the advancing replication fork.

DNA helicase separates the parental double helix, while primase places an RNA primer that gives DNA polymerase a starting point. After that initial primer, the leading strand can usually be extended continuously as more template DNA is exposed.

The main mix-up is with the lagging strand. Its template orientation forces synthesis away from the fork, so it is produced in short sections called Okazaki fragments. Primase repeatedly adds primers there, and DNA ligase later joins the completed fragments. “Template strand” and “coding strand” describe relationships to a gene or transcript, not whether replication is continuous. Because one daughter strand is continuous and the other discontinuous, DNA replication is described as semidiscontinuous. The leading-strand model applies broadly, although the exact enzymes and primer-removal steps differ between bacteria and eukaryotes.