A cursor or pointer is that indicator that we see on a computer screen, generally shaped like a white arrow in a diagonal position with the tip to the left and up, although it can take different sizes, colors, and shapes. This cursor is activated by a peripheral hardware of the computer that we know as a mouse or mouse, this device has a shape that adapts to the hand and with a sensor on a flat surface when moving, it moves the screen to the arrow. In the case of laptops or notebook computers, the cursor is operated through a touch panel.
A cursor can change shape and color depending on the program we are in. Usually a mouse pointer is a white arrow, but in a word processor it looks like a capital Latin I. In a video game, depending on the type of action, it can take whatever form is most convenient. In some photographic programs, it can be shaped like a hand, with which we can scroll through the file to detail areas of it.
The main advantage of the cursor is that it can move in any direction on the computer screen, being able to select, click, copy, drag, copy and delete any object or icon from the desktop or from any application. In general, this type of pointers is known as a mouse cursor, there is also a text (keyboard) cursor that serves as orientation when working in a word processor. This pointer is shaped like a small blinking horizontal line or underscore (floor).
