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Original · left

Cursor (user interface)

First in use: the 1960s
Duplicate · right

Cursor (code editor)

First in use: c. 2023

Cursor / Cursor (user interface) / Cursor (code editor)

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Canonical todayMeasuring…
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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

The blinking line vs. the AI IDE.

Which meaning of Cursor is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Cursor (user interface) came first (the 1960s). Cursor (code editor) arrived in 2023. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Cursor (user interface)Cursor (code editor)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1960s

Cursor (user interface)

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12-mo pageviews—
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Duplicate · c. 2023

Cursor (code editor)

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More duplicated terms

Design & UX