What is the mouse cursor

At the present time - the time of universal computerization - someone may find it strange to ask what the cursor is. But even now, for the first time, someone is confronted with a computer, and for him everything in this area requires an explanation, including this issue.

Cursor definition

The word "cursor" comes from the English word cursor, which has many meanings, but the main one is the "pointer".

And this pointer can show:

1. Place on the monitor (screen), where the next symbol will be displayed.

2. The place from which the action of various manipulators connected to the computer will be executed - such computer mouse, graphic tablet, joystick and many others can serve as such manipulators.

Distinguish text cursors and cursors pointing device.

The first ones are those that determine the location of the next character when printing (see paragraph 1 above), and the second ones are the cursors used when using the manipulators, in particular, it can be the mouse cursor.

The cursor not only points to the place of input, but can also denote:

• in which mode text is entered, for example, in the input mode or in the replacement mode (when the Insert button is pressed);

• Type of text, for example, font size, its shape, etc.

For a more vivid idea of what a cursor is, one should mention its modifications and forms.

To make the text cursor easier to find in the text, it is most often made flashing. Usually this is a vertical flashing feature. Its height corresponds to the font size. Sometimes, instead of a vertical bar, other elements are used, such as a rectangle, a horizontal bar, and so on.

Forms of cursor pointers

There are a lot of such forms. Below are some of them, since in the introductory article it makes no sense to bring all their diversity.

1. The arrow is called the default cursor. Typically, the object pointed to by this cursor, itself informs the user about the possibility of interacting with it.

2. The hand denotes a hyperlink.

3. The crosshair is used primarily for graphic highlighting.

4. Highlight text indicates the ability to enter text in this field.

5. The move cursor says that the selected object can be dragged.

With other forms of cursors it is best to get acquainted in the process of working on the computer. In this case, what is the cursor, becomes especially clear.

Problems in cursor management

There are times when the cursor does not move. The reasons for this situation can be a great many. And to list them all is most likely impossible. This depends, in particular, on what device is used to control the cursor, and on the way it is connected to the computer, etc. But the most likely reasons are as follows. If the device is connected to the computer with wires, then, most likely, the cursor does not move due to wire breakage. If the connection is wireless, then it is most likely that either the control device is not turned on if it is equipped with a switch or a battery is installed in it. In addition, maybe the signal receiver of the control device has failed. Such receivers are often connected to the computer via USB connectors.

The probability that a corresponding driver is not installed in the computer is generally small. But such a test is also useful to do.

In other cases, only a specialist can solve this problem.

This is, in the first approximation, the answer to the question about what a cursor is.