In order of most sun exposure to least:
South
West
East
North

After researching your plant's light wants/requirements, take that info into consideration when siting your plants near the light source.

Al

I guess I took for granted that you would know an 'east-facing' window faces east and is on the east side of your home. ;o)

Al

For windows as well as walls, as Nan says, it is the direction that the sunlight is coming from that counts. For example I look out my bedroom window and see the sunrise, I have an east window. The exterior wall that my bedroom window is set into is an east wall, because the sun that is shining on it is coming from the east. As the sun travels from east to west in the northern hemisphere , it takes a southerly path, so midday sun shines into south windows, and afternoon sun to sunset into west windows. Northern windows get indirect light only.

Al's list is correct, as far as absolute light is concerned, but I must add my own observation about south windows. When I first moved here, I was excited about having a large south window for my sun lovers. As it turns out, in the summertime, when the sun is high in the sky, I actually get very little direct sunshine through that window. The angle of the sun doesn't allow that strong sun to come in more than a few inches beyond the sill. (the southern wall outside has no such problem and is bathed in strong sun.) So during the summer, I find my west window is far better for the high light plants. In the winter, the light does come through the south window at a better angle, but winter sun is quite weak here in northern IL.

My personal favorite exposure is east, right near the window. The majority of non-succulent foliage plants I grow do very well there.

Hah Nan! I did at least know that much. Hehehe!

Thank you all for all of the help. I drew a diagram based on your responses and now I feel sort of silly for not recognizing the difference earlier.

Thanks again.

(Ã) oOpS! Sorry 'bout that!