Pointer (rod)

For the electronic counterpart, see Laser pointer. For a computer input device with the same name, see Pointing stick. For all other uses of the term, see Pointer.

A pointer or pointing stick is a solid rod used to point manually, in the form of a stick, but always finished off or artificially produced.

Robert McNamara points at a North Vietnam map using a pointing stick.

The typical pointer is simply a long, slender, and often flexible stick made in a strong material, designed to indicate specific places on maps, words on blackboards etc.^[1][2] It may be used like any ordinary stick for other purposes, e.g. for punitive caning (compare rulering).^[3]

Some are telescopic and can be carried in a pocket like a pen.^[4]

See also

• Fescue – a pointer used to help children learn to read
• Yad – a Jewish ritual pointer used during the Torah reading