GDK 3 Reference Manual: Cursors

## Cursors Cursors — Standard and pixmap cursors |

## Functions

GdkCursor * | gdk_cursor_new ()
GdkCursor * | gdk_cursor_new_from_pixbuf ()
GdkCursor * | gdk_cursor_new_from_surface ()
GdkCursor * | gdk_cursor_new_from_name ()
GdkCursor * | gdk_cursor_new_for_display ()
GdkDisplay * | gdk_cursor_get_display ()
GdkPixbuf * | gdk_cursor_get_image ()
cairo_surface_t * | gdk_cursor_get_surface ()
GdkCursorType | gdk_cursor_get_cursor_type ()
GdkCursor * | gdk_cursor_ref ()
void | gdk_cursor_unref ()

## Properties

GdkCursorType | cursor-type | Read / Write / Construct Only
GdkDisplay * | display | Read / Write / Construct Only

## Types and Values

| GdkCursor
enum | GdkCursorType

## Object Hierarchy

        GObject
        ╰── GdkCursor

## Includes

    #include <gdk/gdk.h>

## Description

These functions are used to create and destroy cursors. There is a number of standard cursors, but it is also possible to construct new cursors from pixbufs. There may be limitations as to what kinds of cursors can be constructed on a given display, see `gdk_display_supports_cursor_alpha()`, `gdk_display_supports_cursor_color()`, `gdk_display_get_default_cursor_size()` and `gdk_display_get_maximal_cursor_size()`.

Cursors by themselves are not very interesting, they must be be bound to a window for users to see them. This is done with `gdk_window_set_cursor()` or by setting the cursor member of the GdkWindowAttr struct passed to `gdk_window_new()`.

## Functions

### gdk_cursor_new ()

    GdkCursor *
    gdk_cursor_new (GdkCursorType cursor_type);

Creates a new cursor from the set of builtin cursors for the default display. See `gdk_cursor_new_for_display()`.

To make the cursor invisible, use `GDK_BLANK_CURSOR`.

#### Parameters

cursor_type | cursor to create |

#### Returns

a new GdkCursor

### gdk_cursor_new_from_pixbuf ()

    GdkCursor *
    gdk_cursor_new_from_pixbuf (GdkDisplay *display,
                                GdkPixbuf *pixbuf,
                                gint x,
                                gint y);

Creates a new cursor from a pixbuf.

Not all GDK backends support RGBA cursors. If they are not supported, a monochrome approximation will be displayed. The functions `gdk_display_supports_cursor_alpha()` and `gdk_display_supports_cursor_color()` can be used to determine whether RGBA cursors are supported; `gdk_display_get_default_cursor_size()` and `gdk_display_get_maximal_cursor_size()` give information about cursor sizes.

If `x` or `y` are `-1`, the pixbuf must have options named "x_hot" and "y_hot", resp., containing integer values between `0` and the width resp. height of the pixbuf. (Since: 3.0)

On the X backend, support for RGBA cursors requires a sufficently new version of the X Render extension.

#### Parameters

display | the GdkDisplay for which the cursor will be created |
pixbuf | the GdkPixbuf containing the cursor image |
x | the horizontal offset of the 'hotspot' of the cursor. |
y | the vertical offset of the 'hotspot' of the cursor. |

#### Returns

a new GdkCursor.

Since 2.4

### gdk_cursor_new_from_surface ()

    GdkCursor *
    gdk_cursor_new_from_surface (GdkDisplay *display,
                                 cairo_surface_t *surface,
                                 gdouble x,
                                 gdouble y);

Creates a new cursor from a cairo image surface.

Not all GDK backends support RGBA cursors. If they are not supported, a monochrome approximation will be displayed. The functions `gdk_display_supports_cursor_alpha()` and `gdk_display_supports_cursor_color()` can be used to determine whether RGBA cursors are supported; `gdk_display_get_default_cursor_size()` and `gdk_display_get_maximal_cursor_size()` give information about cursor sizes.

On the X backend, support for RGBA cursors requires a sufficently new version of the X Render extension.

#### Parameters

display | the GdkDisplay for which the cursor will be created |
surface | the cairo image surface containing the cursor pixel data |
x | the horizontal offset of the 'hotspot' of the cursor |
y | the vertical offset of the 'hotspot' of the cursor |

#### Returns

a new GdkCursor.

Since 3.10

### gdk_cursor_new_from_name ()

    GdkCursor *
    gdk_cursor_new_from_name (GdkDisplay *display,
                              const gchar *name);

Creates a new cursor by looking up `name` in the current cursor theme.

#### Parameters

display | the GdkDisplay for which the cursor will be created |
name | the name of the cursor |

#### Returns

a new GdkCursor, or `NULL` if there is no cursor with the given name

Since 2.8

### gdk_cursor_new_for_display ()

    GdkCursor *
    gdk_cursor_new_for_display (GdkDisplay *display,
                                GdkCursorType cursor_type);

Creates a new cursor from the set of builtin cursors. Some useful ones are:

- GDK_RIGHT_PTR (right-facing arrow)

- GDK_CROSSHAIR (crosshair)

- GDK_XTERM (I-beam)

- GDK_WATCH (busy)

- GDK_FLEUR (for moving objects)

- GDK_HAND1 (a right-pointing hand)

- GDK_HAND2 (a left-pointing hand)

- GDK_LEFT_SIDE (resize left side)

- GDK_RIGHT_SIDE (resize right side)

- GDK_TOP_LEFT_CORNER (resize northwest corner)

- GDK_TOP_RIGHT_CORNER (resize northeast corner)

- GDK_BOTTOM_LEFT_CORNER (resize southwest corner)

- GDK_BOTTOM_RIGHT_CORNER (resize southeast corner)

- GDK_TOP_SIDE (resize top side)

- GDK_BOTTOM_SIDE (resize bottom side)

- GDK_SB_H_DOUBLE_ARROW (move vertical splitter)

- GDK_SB_V_DOUBLE_ARROW (move horizontal splitter)

- GDK_BLANK_CURSOR (Blank cursor). Since 2.16

#### Parameters

display | the GdkDisplay for which the cursor will be created |
cursor_type | cursor to create |

#### Returns

a new GdkCursor

Since 2.2

### gdk_cursor_get_display ()

    GdkDisplay *
    gdk_cursor_get_display (GdkCursor *cursor);

Returns the display on which the GdkCursor is defined.

#### Parameters

cursor | a GdkCursor. |

#### Returns

the GdkDisplay associated to `cursor` .

[transfer none]

Since 2.2

### gdk_cursor_get_image ()

    GdkPixbuf *
    gdk_cursor_get_image (GdkCursor *cursor);

Returns a GdkPixbuf with the image used to display the cursor.

Note that depending on the capabilities of the windowing system and on the cursor, GDK may not be able to obtain the image data. In this case, `NULL` is returned.

#### Parameters

cursor | a GdkCursor |

#### Returns

a GdkPixbuf representing `cursor` , or `NULL`.

[transfer full]

Since 2.8

### gdk_cursor_get_surface ()

    cairo_surface_t *
    gdk_cursor_get_surface (GdkCursor *cursor,
                            gdouble *x_hot,
                            gdouble *y_hot);

Returns a cairo image surface with the image used to display the cursor.

Note that depending on the capabilities of the windowing system and on the cursor, GDK may not be able to obtain the image data. In this case, `NULL` is returned.

#### Parameters

cursor | a GdkCursor |
x_hot | Location to store the hotspot x position, or `NULL` |
y_hot | Location to store the hotspot y position, or `NULL` |

#### Returns

a cairo_surface_t representing `cursor` , or `NULL`.

[transfer full]

Since 3.10

### gdk_cursor_get_cursor_type ()

    GdkCursorType
    gdk_cursor_get_cursor_type (GdkCursor *cursor);

Returns the cursor type for this cursor.

#### Parameters

cursor | a GdkCursor |

#### Returns

a GdkCursorType

Since 2.22

### gdk_cursor_ref ()

    GdkCursor *
    gdk_cursor_ref (GdkCursor *cursor);

`gdk_cursor_ref` has been deprecated since version 3.0 and should not be used in newly-written code.

Use `g_object_ref()` instead

Adds a reference to `cursor` .

#### Parameters

cursor | a GdkCursor |

#### Returns

Same `cursor` that was passed in.

[transfer full]

### gdk_cursor_unref ()

    void
    gdk_cursor_unref (GdkCursor *cursor);

`gdk_cursor_unref` has been deprecated since version 3.0 and should not be used in newly-written code.

Use `g_object_unref()` instead

Removes a reference from `cursor` , deallocating the cursor if no references remain.

#### Parameters

cursor | a GdkCursor |

## Types and Values

### GdkCursor

    typedef struct _GdkCursor GdkCursor;

The GdkCursor structure represents a cursor. Its contents are private.

### enum GdkCursorType

The standard cursors available.

#### Members

GDK_X_CURSOR |  |
GDK_ARROW |  |
GDK_BASED_ARROW_DOWN |  |
GDK_BASED_ARROW_UP |  |
GDK_BOAT |  |
GDK_BOGOSITY |  |
GDK_BOTTOM_LEFT_CORNER |  |
GDK_BOTTOM_RIGHT_CORNER |  |
GDK_BOTTOM_SIDE |  |
GDK_BOTTOM_TEE |  |
GDK_BOX_SPIRAL |  |
GDK_CENTER_PTR |  |
GDK_CIRCLE |  |
GDK_CLOCK |  |
GDK_COFFEE_MUG |  |
GDK_CROSS |  |
GDK_CROSS_REVERSE |  |
GDK_CROSSHAIR |  |
GDK_DIAMOND_CROSS |  |
GDK_DOT |  |
GDK_DOTBOX |  |
GDK_DOUBLE_ARROW |  |
GDK_DRAFT_LARGE |  |
GDK_DRAFT_SMALL |  |
GDK_DRAPED_BOX |  |
GDK_EXCHANGE |  |
GDK_FLEUR |  |
GDK_GOBBLER |  |
GDK_GUMBY |  |
GDK_HAND1 |  |
GDK_HAND2 |  |
GDK_HEART |  |
GDK_ICON |  |
GDK_IRON_CROSS |  |
GDK_LEFT_PTR |  |
GDK_LEFT_SIDE |  |
GDK_LEFT_TEE |  |
GDK_LEFTBUTTON |  |
GDK_LL_ANGLE |  |
GDK_LR_ANGLE |  |
GDK_MAN |  |
GDK_MIDDLEBUTTON |  |
GDK_MOUSE |  |
GDK_PENCIL |  |
GDK_PIRATE |  |
GDK_PLUS |  |
GDK_QUESTION_ARROW |  |
GDK_RIGHT_PTR |  |
GDK_RIGHT_SIDE |  |
GDK_RIGHT_TEE |  |
GDK_RIGHTBUTTON |  |
GDK_RTL_LOGO |  |
GDK_SAILBOAT |  |
GDK_SB_DOWN_ARROW |  |
GDK_SB_H_DOUBLE_ARROW |  |
GDK_SB_LEFT_ARROW |  |
GDK_SB_RIGHT_ARROW |  |
GDK_SB_UP_ARROW |  |
GDK_SB_V_DOUBLE_ARROW |  |
GDK_SHUTTLE |  |
GDK_SIZING |  |
GDK_SPIDER |  |
GDK_SPRAYCAN |  |
GDK_STAR |  |
GDK_TARGET |  |
GDK_TCROSS |  |
GDK_TOP_LEFT_ARROW |  |
GDK_TOP_LEFT_CORNER |  |
GDK_TOP_RIGHT_CORNER |  |
GDK_TOP_SIDE |  |
GDK_TOP_TEE |  |
GDK_TREK |  |
GDK_UL_ANGLE |  |
GDK_UMBRELLA |  |
GDK_UR_ANGLE |  |
GDK_WATCH |  |
GDK_XTERM |  |
GDK_LAST_CURSOR | last cursor type |
GDK_BLANK_CURSOR | Blank cursor. Since 2.16 |
GDK_CURSOR_IS_PIXMAP | type of cursors constructed with `gdk_cursor_new_from_pixbuf()` |

## Property Details

### The `“cursor-type”` property

      “cursor-type”              GdkCursorType

Standard cursor type.

Flags: Read / Write / Construct Only

Default value: GDK_X_CURSOR

### The `“display”` property

      “display”                  GdkDisplay *

Display of this cursor.

Flags: Read / Write / Construct Only