Talk:Caret navigation

removed external link becaus it didn't work — Preceding unsigned comment added by 88.68.118.231 (talk) 19:47, 24 March 2012 (UTC)
 * Restored external link now! --Wikipedian33 (talk) 13:10, 24 September 2021 (UTC)

Caret vs. Cursor
A caret according to Wikipedia is the symbol ^, found, on the keyboards I am used to, on the same key as the digit 6.

I realize that the ^ symbol has multiple uses but it seems to me that calling this article "caret navigation" rather than "cursor navigation" is just plain confusing. The vertical symbol flashing in the box captioned: "A caret flashing in a text entry box" is not what is in my experience called a caret,; it is usually called a cursor.

Can someone explain why this terminology is used? As I said, it is confusing.

Thank you, Wanderer57 (talk) 18:59, 11 February 2014 (UTC)
 * Agree. The words "caret" and "cursor" are used interchangeably in the  text of the article.  In the 21st century, "cursor" is more commonly understood, and "caret" is archaic.  I recommend standardizing on "cursor" throughout the article, as well as renaming the article "Cursor navigation". 71.219.200.67 (talk) 05:46, 4 August 2015 (UTC)
 * While I agree that "cursor" is nowadays more common, I believe the current title carries more WP:PRECISION, since "cursor" is also applied to the mouse pointer, as well as Cursor (databases) which also can be navigated programatically; while "caret" is always understood as the text cursor in this context.
 * Thus, "caret navigation" is unambiguously referring to navigation with the text cursor, while "cursor navigation" would require disambiguation. Diego (talk) 10:45, 4 August 2015 (UTC)
 * Support for cursor. Also, I see no reference to multicursors, something really great ! Yug (talk)  15:47, 1 February 2020 (UTC)


 * I am for "Caret". As User:Diego pointed out that many people will not misunderstand, while "cursor navigation" would require disambiguation. Word "Caret Navigation is often seen in users's manuals for Linux distributions and Windows. --Wikipedian33 (talk) 12:40, 24 September 2021 (UTC)


 * Chrome, at least, thinks this is called "caret navigation". Hit F7 and look at the box that pops up asking if you want to turn it on. This should point out that virtually all text input already has caret navigation (I guess the alternatives is command-line where you can only edit at the end of a line?). But viewing text is where this is unusual and where users may encounter the term.Spitzak (talk) 17:07, 15 September 2022 (UTC)
 * Agree.
 * -caret is a ^ (typically said like carrot)
 * -cursor is a | (vertical bar/pipe/Sheffer stroke)
 * -mouse pointer is a pointer -> (as in "move the pointer on the computer screen")
 * Cursor browsing (as opposed to Chrome's F7 'Turn on caret browsing?' prompt) is quite relatable with a phone, when holding down the Space bar to move the cursor around.
 * Consistency, please. Eiger3970 (talk) 13:44, 5 January 2024 (UTC)