Caret vs. Cursor — What's the Difference?

The caret () is a V-shaped grapheme, usually inverted and sometimes extended, used in proofreading and typography to indicate that additional material needs to be inserted at this point in the text. There is a similar mark, ^, that has a variety of uses in programming, mathematics and other contexts.

A movable indicator on a display, marking a position where typed characters will appear or where an option can be selected.

A mark (‸, ⁁) placed below the line to indicate a proposed insertion in a text.

A part of any of several scientific or measuring instruments that moves back and forth to indicate a position.

A proofreading symbol (^) used to indicate where something is to be inserted in a line of printed or written matter.

(graphical user interface) A moving icon or other representation of the position of the pointing device.

A mark ⟨ ‸ ⟩ used by writers and proofreaders to indicate that something is to be inserted at that point.

(graphical user interface) An indicator, often a blinking line or bar, indicating where the next insertion or other edit will take place.

(graphical user interface) An indicator, often a blinking line or bar, indicating where the next insertion or other edit will take place. Also called a cursor.

(databases) A reference to a row of data in a table, which moves from row to row as data is retrieved by way of it.

(non-standard) A circumflex, ⟨ ＾ ⟩.

(programming) A design pattern in object oriented methodology in which a collection is iterated uniformly.

(non-standard) A háček, ⟨ ˇ ⟩.

To navigate by means of the cursor keys.

(archaic) A kind of turtle, the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Any part of a mathematical instrument that moves or slides backward and forward upon another part.

A mark [^] used by writers and proof readers to indicate that something is interlined above, or inserted in the margin, which belongs in the place marked by the caret.

(computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving the cursor allows the user to point to commands or screen positions

The hawkbill turtle. See Hawkbill.

A mark used by an author or editor to indicate where something is to be inserted into a text