The Cylinder button on the Creation command panel produces a cylinder, which you can then “slice” around it’s major axis.
The defaults produce a smooth cylinder of 24 sides with the pivot point at the center of the base. There is one height segment and one cap segment. If you plan to apply a modifier to the cylinder, increase the number of height segments. With only a single height segment, a cylinder can’t bend, for example, instead, it tilts rigidly. You might also increase cap segments if you plan to modify the ends of the cylinder.
Radius: Sets the radius of the cylinder
Height: Sets the dimension along the central axis. Negative values create the cylinder below the construction plane.
Height Segments: Sets the number of divisions along the cylinder’s major axis.
Cap Segments: Sets the number of concentric divisions around the center of the cylinder's top and bottom.
Sides: Sets the number of sides around the cylinder. Higher numbers shade and render as true circles with Smooth selected. Lower numbers create regular polygonal objects with Smooth clear.
Smooth: When selected (the default), faces of the cylinder are blended together, creating a smooth appearance in rendered views.
Slice On: Sets or clears the Slice feature. Default=clear.
When you create a slice and then uncheck Slice On, the complete cylinder reappears. You can therefore use this check box to switch between the two topologies.
Slice From, Slice To: Sets the number of degrees around the local Z axis from a zero point at the local X axis.
For both settings, positive values move the end of the slice counterclockwise, negative values, clockwise. Either setting can be made first. When the ends meet, the whole cylinder reappears.
Generate Mapping Coordinates: Sets up the required coordinates for applying mapped materials to the cylinder. Default=clear.