Directional Pad

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What Does Directional Pad Mean?

A directional pad (D-pad) is a series of buttons placed in an arrow or cross design that provides commands for four directions – up-down-left-right or north-south-east-west. This type of physical interface control has been extremely popular in gaming equipment and other uses, such as television remote controls.

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Techopedia Explains Directional Pad

In most cases, the D-pad is made up of four different sensors under a plastic pad. When the user presses on each one, it sends a directional command to the program or game. Users take advantage of a D-pad to move players on the screen, navigate menus or perform other directional tasks. In some cases, a D-pad might actually be part of a touchscreen or desktop interface, rather than a physical set of buttons. Either way, it provides a very familiar and straightforward interface for users in many instances, from gaming to desktop computer software.

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Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert
Margaret Rouse
Technology Expert

Margaret is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical business audience. Over the past twenty years, her IT definitions have been published by Que in an encyclopedia of technology terms and cited in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine, and Discovery Magazine. She joined Techopedia in 2011. Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages.