Cursor

Template:Split

A cursor is a movable marker that indicates a position. The term has been used with this meaning since the 16th century, for a wide variety of movable position markers.

Missing image
Slide_rule_cursor.jpg
Slide rule cursor

On slide rules, a cursor is a sliding glass or plastic plate that has a fine line etched or painted onto it to line up the different scales. Slide rule operation consists of finding a number on one scale and lining it up with a number on another scale. If the scales are separated by any distance, the cursor is used to accurately line them up or read values.

On a typewriter, the cursor indicates the position at which the next key to be struck will type.

The term is now most commonly used as a feature of a computer user interface. On CRT character-based interfaces, the cursor was originally (and is still sometimes) a solid rectangle indicating the position of the next character to be typed or the next to be deleted when backspacing or overtyping. On modern computers with a graphical user interface, there are two cursors:

  • the mouse pointer, usually an arrow, that moves on the screen as you move the computer mouse or other pointing device.
  • an insertion point, displayed when editing text to show the location of any future modifications. This is usually represented by a blinking vertical line.

In many computer programs, the shape of the mouse pointer cursor changes when the user's task changes or when it is over a different window. For instance:

  • In text that can be selected, the cursor can change to a vertical bar with little cross bars at the top and bottom.
  • In move mode (for moving an image or icon), the cursor is a hand with all fingers stretched.
  • A graphics-editing cursor is displayed while the user is editing an image.
  • On an edge of a window the cursor changes into a double arrow (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal) indicating that the edge can adjusted in the indicated direction.
  • When a computer process is performing tasks and is unable to accept user input, a wait cursor (an hourglass or watch) is sometimes displayed in the corresponding window.
  • When the cursor hovers over a hyperlink, it changes into a hand with a stretched index finger. Also often some informative text about the link pops up, not in a regular window, but in a special hovering box, which disappears when the cursor is moved away. The "Tool Tips" revealed in the box are dependent on the implementation of the web browser; many web browsers will display the "title" of the element, the "alt" attribute, or the non-W3C- standard "tooltips" attribute.

In database packages, cursor refers to a control structure for the traversal of records returned by a query.

de:Einfügemarke es:Cursor nl:Cursor nds:Blinker

Navigation

  • Art and Cultures
    • Art (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Art)
    • Architecture (https://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Architecture)
    • Cultures (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Cultures)
    • Music (https://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Music)
    • Musical Instruments (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/List_of_musical_instruments)
  • Biographies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Biographies)
  • Clipart (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Clipart)
  • Geography (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Geography)
    • Countries of the World (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Countries)
    • Maps (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Maps)
    • Flags (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Flags)
    • Continents (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Continents)
  • History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History)
    • Ancient Civilizations (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Ancient_Civilizations)
    • Industrial Revolution (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Industrial_Revolution)
    • Middle Ages (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Middle_Ages)
    • Prehistory (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Prehistory)
    • Renaissance (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Renaissance)
    • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
    • United States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/United_States)
    • Wars (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Wars)
    • World History (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/History_of_the_world)
  • Human Body (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Human_Body)
  • Mathematics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Mathematics)
  • Reference (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Reference)
  • Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Science)
    • Animals (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Animals)
    • Aviation (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Aviation)
    • Dinosaurs (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Dinosaurs)
    • Earth (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Earth)
    • Inventions (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Inventions)
    • Physical Science (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Physical_Science)
    • Plants (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Plants)
    • Scientists (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Scientists)
  • Social Studies (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Social_Studies)
    • Anthropology (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Anthropology)
    • Economics (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Economics)
    • Government (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Government)
    • Religion (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Religion)
    • Holidays (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Holidays)
  • Space and Astronomy
    • Solar System (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Solar_System)
    • Planets (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Planets)
  • Sports (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Sports)
  • Timelines (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Timelines)
  • Weather (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Weather)
  • US States (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/US_States)

Information

  • Home Page (http://academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php)
  • Contact Us (http://www.academickids.com/encyclopedia/index.php/Contactus)

  • Clip Art (http://classroomclipart.com)
Toolbox
Personal tools