Cursor is Latin for ‘runner’. A cursor is a name given to the transparent slide engraved with a hairline used to mark a point on a slide rule. The term was then transferred to computers through analogy
Yes , the link I provided also explains the etymology of “mouse”. In short, the invention of a free moving cursor was initially called a “bug”, but since the caret cursor was also called a “cat” they called it mouse. The first mouse pointers were operated by trackballs, so the physical device didn’t resemble a mouse until later.
The subject in question is a “caret”. It’s also known by the more generic word cursor (or slightly more specific “text cursor”) but seeing as there’s a specific word for the item in question it makes sense to use that, even if both are appropriate. They’re all a kind of symbol so we could just call it that. But that’s even less helpful, isn’t it.
It’s called a cursor.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cursor_(user_interface)
“Caret” is also correct, and more specific, since “Cursor” can also mean the mouse cursor.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caret_navigation
Yes , the link I provided also explains the etymology of “mouse”. In short, the invention of a free moving cursor was initially called a “bug”, but since the caret cursor was also called a “cat” they called it mouse. The first mouse pointers were operated by trackballs, so the physical device didn’t resemble a mouse until later.
It’s called a symbol.
Never seen that used in this context, but I’m sure it has lots of names.
The original patent is on cursor though. https://patents.google.com/patent/US3531796
Which is the same as the marker on a slide ruler was called.
The subject in question is a “caret”. It’s also known by the more generic word cursor (or slightly more specific “text cursor”) but seeing as there’s a specific word for the item in question it makes sense to use that, even if both are appropriate. They’re all a kind of symbol so we could just call it that. But that’s even less helpful, isn’t it.