Touchpad Vocab
Left Click
A light tap with just one finger (any one). This is the most commonly used. *The name comes from the use of a traditional mouse, where you click once using the left button on the mouse.
Right Click
A light tap with two fingers (any two) at the exact same time. This is used to view additional options. *The name comes from the use of a traditional mouse, where you click once using the right button on the mouse.
Mouse
A small piece of equipment that you move with your hand which then moves the cursor on the screen. Usually used with desktop computers. Less common with laptops.
Touchpad (sometimes called Trackpad)
An area on a laptop that substitutes for a mouse. You move your finger around on it to move the cursor around on the screen.
Cursor
An indicator on the screen that moves when you move a finger across the touchpad. It usually starts out as an arrow, but it changes shape to give you information about what you're pointing at.
Ibeam
This is what the cursor (arrow) turns into when it's over text. It resembles a capital I, and it shows you that you can edit or select text.
Link select (Pointing finger)
This is what the cursor turns into when it's over a link. It shows you that you can click on an item and it will make something happen.
Tap
To lightly touch one or more fingers to the touchpad. This is gentle and the touchpad is not pressed down completely.
Highlight
To mark your selection, making it show in inverse. What was light is dark and what was dark is light. This shows what you have currently selected.
Drag
To move an item on the screen. With one finger click and hold. Slide another finger around on the touchpad to move the object you want to move.
Hover
To move the cursor over an item in order to get more information about it. No clicks or taps happen, but you do have to wait a few seconds until a small, text-filled box appears.
Scroll
To move the page up or down by lightly dragging two fingers on the touchpad.
Point
To place the cursor/arrow on something without clicking. You might do this to highlight something or to show someone looking at your screen where to look.
Click
To press down on the touchpad with one or more fingers. This is a firm press on the touchpad and it sometimes makes a quiet noise.
Double Click
Two fast clicks, back to back. This is usually done to open a file or folder.