The cursors are named according to the current freedesktop.org cursor conventions specification (draft):
<http://www.freedesktop.org/Standards/cursor-spec>
Other cursors are provided as symlinks by name or hash.
X-cursor The X window system logo.
default Default cursor. Indicates the interface is idle and prepared to accept commands from the user. Used to manipulate basic user interface elements like buttons and scrollbars. Usually a left pointing diagonal arrow.
right-arrow Inverted version of the default cursor. This cursor is used in Motif when a popup menu or a drop down combo-box is open, to indicate that the widget has grabbed the mouse. Typically rendered as a right pointing diagonal arrow.
up-arrow Up pointing arrow cursor. This cursor is typically used to identify an insertion point.
text Text input cursor. Indicates that the cursor is in a region in which horizontal text can be selected and possibly edited. Typically rendered as a vertical I-beam.
vertical-text Text input cursor. Indicates that the cursor is in a region in which vertical text can be selected and possibly edited. Typically rendered as a horizontal I-beam.
pointer Indicates that the object below the cursor is clickable. This cursor is typically used for links in web browsers. It shouldn't be abused for pushbuttons and other UI elements where it's otherwise apparent by the design of the widget that it's a clickable object. Often rendered as a pointing hand.
crosshair Crosshair cursor. Typically used for precision drawing or manipulation of an area.
help Help cursor. Indicates that the system is in a context help mode, and if the user clicks an object a small window will open up to provide usage information for that object. The context help mode is typically activated by clicking a help button on the titlebar of a window that provides context help. Often rendered as the default cursor with a question mark symbol next to it.
progress Default cursor + busy cursor. Indicates a pending activity which may asynchronously affect the interface but which is not blocking commands from the user.
wait Busy cursor. Indicates that the interface is not prepared to accept commands from the user and is blocked on some external resource. Often rendered as a watch or an hourglass.
copy !DnD copy cursor. Indicates that a copy of the dragged object will be created in the area below the cursor if dropped. Typically rendered as the default cursor with a small plus sign next to it.
alias !DnD link cursor. Indicates that a link to the original location of the dragged object will be created in the area below the cursor if dropped. Typically rendered as the default cursor with a small curved arrow next to it.
no-drop !DnD no-drop cursor. Indicates that the dragged object can't be dropped in the region below the cursor. Typically rendered as the default cursor with a small circle with a diagonal line through it. Can be identical to not-allowed.
not-allowed Forbidden cursor. Indicates that a particular region is invalid for the current operation. Often rendered as circle with a diagonal line through it.
cell The thick plus sign cursor that's typically used in spread-sheet applications to select cells.
all-scroll Scroll/move cursor. Used to indicate that moving the mouse will also move the UI element below the cursor. Often rendered as a combined vertical and horizontal twin-headed arrow.
context-menu Indicates that a context menu is available for the object underneath the cursor. Typically rendered as the default cursor with a small menu-like graphic next to it.
row-resize Horizontal splitter bar cursor. Indicates that the bar below the cursor can be moved up and down to resize the objects it separates. Used when it's not apparent if the object below the cursor is just a visual separator between two other UI elements, or an object that can be manipulated. Usually rendered as a vertical twin-headed arrow, split in the middle by a horizontal line.
col-resize Vertical splitter bar cursor. Indicates that the bar below the cursor can be moved left and right to resize the objects it separates. Used when it's not apparent if the object below the cursor is just a visual separator between two other UI elements, or an object that can be manipulated. Usually rendered as a horizonal twin-headed arrow, split in the middle by a vertical line.
e-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the right edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window horizontally.
ne-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the top-right edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window diagonally.
nw-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the top-left edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window diagonally.
n-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the top edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window vertically.
se-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the bottom-right edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window diagonally.
sw-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the bottom-left edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window diagonally.
s-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the bottom edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window vertically.
w-resize Indicates that the cursor is over the left edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged in order to resize the window horizontally.
ew-resize Horizontal resizing cursor. Indicates that cursor is over the the left or right edge of a window, and that ithe edge can be clicked and dragged to resize the window horizontally. Typically rendered as a horizontal twin-headed arrow.
ns-resize Vertical resizing cursor. Indicates that cursor is over the the top or bottom edge of a window, and that the edge can be clicked and dragged to resize the window vertically. Typically rendered as a verticaly twin-headed arrow.
nesw-resize Back-diagonal resizing cursor. Indicates that the UI element below the cursor is the top-right or bottom-left corner of a window, and that it can be clicked and dragged to resize the window diagonally. Typically a twin-headed arrow.
nwse-resize Forward-diagonal resizing cursor. Indicates that the UI element below the cursor is the top-left or bottom-right corner of a window, and that it can be clicked and dragged to resize the window diagonally. Typically a twin-headed arrow.
This is the current xorg naming convention (CursorName.c, cursor.bdf):
x_cursor XC_X_cursor
arrow XC_arrow
based_arrow_down XC_based_arrow_down
based_arrow_up XC_based_arrow_up
boat XC_boat
bogosity XC_bogosity
bottom_left_corner XC_bottom_left_corner
bottom_right_corner XC_bottom_right_corner
bottom_side XC_bottom_side
bottom_tee XC_bottom_tee
box_spiral XC_box_spiral
center_ptr XC_center_ptr
circle XC_circle
clock XC_clock
coffee_mug XC_coffee_mug
cross XC_cross
cross_reverse XC_cross_reverse
crosshair XC_crosshair
diamond_cross XC_diamond_cross
dot XC_dot
dotbox XC_dotbox
double_arrow XC_double_arrow
draft_large XC_draft_large
draft_small XC_draft_small
draped_box XC_draped_box
exchange XC_exchange
fleur XC_fleur
gobbler XC_gobbler
gumby XC_gumby
hand1 XC_hand1
hand2 XC_hand2
heart XC_heart
icon XC_icon
iron_cross XC_iron_cross
left_ptr XC_left_ptr
left_side XC_left_side
left_tee XC_left_tee
leftbutton XC_leftbutton
ll_angle XC_ll_angle
lr_angle XC_lr_angle
man XC_man
middlebutton XC_middlebutton
mouse XC_mouse
pencil XC_pencil
pirate XC_pirate
plus XC_plus
question_arrow XC_question_arrow
right_ptr XC_right_ptr
right_side XC_right_side
right_tee XC_right_tee
rightbutton XC_rightbutton
rtl_logo XC_rtl_logo
sailboat XC_sailboat
sb_down_arrow XC_sb_down_arrow
sb_h_double_arrow XC_sb_h_double_arrow
sb_left_arrow XC_sb_left_arrow
sb_right_arrow XC_sb_right_arrow
sb_up_arrow XC_sb_up_arrow
sb_v_double_arrow XC_sb_v_double_arrow
shuttle XC_shuttle
sizing XC_sizing
spider XC_spider
spraycan XC_spraycan
star XC_star
target XC_target
tcross XC_tcross
top_left_arrow XC_top_left_arrow
top_left_corner XC_top_left_corner
top_right_corner XC_top_right_corner
top_side XC_top_side
top_tee XC_top_tee
trek XC_trek
ul_angle XC_ul_angle
umbrella XC_umbrella
ur_angle XC_ur_angle
watch XC_watch
xterm XC_xterm
This is the current (Qt4) cursor name scheme (qcursor.cpp, qcursor_x11.cpp):
Qt::ArrowCursor left_ptr
Qt::UpArrowCursor up_arrow
Qt::CrossCursor cross
Qt::WaitCursor wait
Qt::BusyCursor left_ptr_watch
Qt::IBeamCursor ibeam
Qt::SizeVerCursor size_ver
Qt::SizeHorCursor size_hor
Qt::SizeBDiagCursor size_bdiag
Qt::SizeFDiagCursor size_fdiag
Qt::SizeAllCursor size_all
Qt::SplitVCursor split_v
Qt::SplitHCursor split_h
Qt::PointingHandCursor pointing_hand
Qt::ForbiddenCursor forbidden
Qt::WhatsThisCursor whats_this
My denominated map of QCursor to XCursor:
Qt::ArrowCursor XC_left_ptr;
Qt::UpArrowCursor XC_center_ptr;
Qt::CrossCursor XC_crosshair;
Qt::WaitCursor XC_watch;
Qt::IBeamCursor XC_xterm;
Qt::SizeAllCursor XC_fleur;
Qt::PointingHandCursor XC_hand2;
Qt::SizeBDiagCursor XC_top_right_corner;
Qt::SizeFDiagCursor XC_bottom_right_corner;
Qt::BlankCursor
Qt::SizeVerCursor XC_sb_v_double_arrow;
Qt::SplitVCursor XC_sb_v_double_arrow;
Qt::SizeHorCursor XC_sb_h_double_arrow;
Qt::SplitHCursor XC_sb_h_double_arrow;
Qt::WhatsThisCursor XC_question_arrow;
Qt::ForbiddenCursor XC_circle;
Qt::BusyCursor XC_watch;
This is the current Gnome curser names (gdk_enums.def)
# x-cursor GDK_X_CURSOR
arrow GDK_ARROW
based-arrow-down GDK_BASED_ARROW_DOWN
based-arrow-up GDK_BASED_ARROW_UP
boat GDK_BOAT
bogosity GDK_BOGOSITY
bottom-left-corner GDK_BOTTOM_LEFT_CORNER
bottom-right-corner GDK_BOTTOM_RIGHT_CORNER
bottom-side GDK_BOTTOM_SIDE
bottom-tee GDK_BOTTOM_TEE
box-spiral GDK_BOX_SPIRAL
center-ptr GDK_CENTER_PTR
circle GDK_CIRCLE
clock GDK_CLOCK
coffee-mug GDK_COFFEE_MUG
cross GDK_CROSS
cross-reverse GDK_CROSS_REVERSE
crosshair GDK_CROSSHAIR
diamond-cross GDK_DIAMOND_CROSS
dot GDK_DO
dotbox GDK_DOTBOX
double-arrow GDK_DOUBLE_ARROW
draft-large GDK_DRAFT_LARGE
draft-small GDK_DRAFT_SMALL
draped-box GDK_DRAPED_BOX
exchange GDK_EXCHANGE
fleur GDK_FLEUR
gobbler GDK_GOBBLER
gumby GDK_GUMBY
hand1 GDK_HAND1
hand2 GDK_HAND2
heart GDK_HEART
icon GDK_ICON
iron-cross GDK_IRON_CROSS
left-ptr GDK_LEFT_PTR
left-side GDK_LEFT_SIDE
left-tee GDK_LEFT_TEE
leftbutton GDK_LEFTBUTTON
ll-angle GDK_LL_ANGLE
lr-angle GDK_LR_ANGLE
man GDK_MAN
middlebutton GDK_MIDDLEBUTTON
mouse GDK_MOUSE
pencil GDK_PENCIL
pirate GDK_PIRATE
plus GDK_PLUS
question-arrow GDK_QUESTION_ARROW
right-ptr GDK_RIGHT_PTR
right-side GDK_RIGHT_SIDE
right-tee GDK_RIGHT_TEE
rightbutton GDK_RIGHTBUTTON
rtl-logo GDK_RTL_LOGO
sailboat GDK_SAILBOAT
sb-down-arrow GDK_SB_DOWN_ARROW
sb-h-double-arrow GDK_SB_H_DOUBLE_ARROW
sb-left-arrow GDK_SB_LEFT_ARROW
sb-right-arrow GDK_SB_RIGHT_ARROW
sb-up-arrow GDK_SB_UP_ARROW
sb-v-double-arrow GDK_SB_V_DOUBLE_ARROW
shuttle GDK_SHUTTLE
sizing GDK_SIZING
spider GDK_SPIDER
spraycan GDK_SPRAYCAN
star GDK_STAR
target GDK_TARGET
tcross GDK_TCROSS
top-left-arrow GDK_TOP_LEFT_ARROW
top-left-corner GDK_TOP_LEFT_CORNER
top-right-corner GDK_TOP_RIGHT_CORNER
top-side GDK_TOP_SIDE
top-tee GDK_TOP_TEE
trek GDK_TREK
ul-angle GDK_UL_ANGLE
umbrella GDK_UMBRELLA
ur-angle GDK_UR_ANGLE
watch GDK_WATCH
xterm GDK_XTERM
last-cursor GDK_LAST_CURSOR
# cursor-is-pixmap GDK_CURSOR_IS_PIXMAP
CSS3 Cursors (http://www.w3.org/TR/css3-ui/#cursor0)
auto The UA determines the cursor to display based on the current context.
default The platform-dependent default cursor. Often rendered as an arrow.
none No cursor is rendered for the element.
context-menu A context menu is available for the object under the cursor. Often rendered as an arrow with a small menu-like graphic next to it.
help Help is available for the object under the cursor. Often rendered as a question mark or a balloon.
pointer The cursor is a pointer that indicates a link.
progress A progress indicator. The program is performing some processing, but is different from 'wait' in that the user may still interact with the program. Often rendered as a spinning beach ball, or an arrow with a watch or hourglass.
wait Indicates that the program is busy and the user should wait. Often rendered as a watch or hourglass.
cell Indicates that a cell or set of cells may be selected. Often rendered as a thick plus-sign with a dot in the middle.
crosshair A simple crosshair (e.g., short line segments resembling a "+" sign). Often used to indicate a two dimensional bitmap selection mode.
text Indicates text that may be selected. Often rendered as a vertical I-beam. User agents may automatically display a horizontal I-beam/cursor (e.g. same as the 'vertical-text' keyword) for vertical text, or for that matter, any angle of I-beam/cursor for text that is rendered at any particular angle.
vertical-text Indicates vertical-text that may be selected. Often rendered as a horizontal I-beam.
alias Indicates an alias of/shortcut to something is to be created. Often rendered as an arrow with a small curved arrow next to it.
copy Indicates something is to be copied. Often rendered as an arrow with a small plus sign next to it.
move Indicates something is to be moved.
no-drop Indicates that the dragged item cannot be dropped at the current cursor location. Often rendered as a hand or pointer with a small circle with a line through it.
not-allowed Indicates that the requested action will not be carried out. Often rendered as a circle with a line through it.
e-resize
n-resize
ne-resize
nw-resize
s-resize
se-resize
sw-resize,
w-resize Indicates that some edge is to be moved. For example, the 'se-resize' cursor is used when the movement starts from the south-east corner of the box.
ew-resize
ns-resize
nesw-resize
nwse-resize Indicates a bidirectional resize cursor.
col-resize Indicates that the item/column can be resized horizontally. Often rendered as arrows pointing left and right with a vertical bar separating them.
row-resize Indicates that the item/row can be resized vertically. Often rendered as arrows pointing up and down with a horizontal bar separating them.
all-scroll Indicates that the something can be scrolled in any direction. Often rendered as arrows pointing up, down, left, and right with a dot in the middle.