Focus (computing)

In Computing the Focus is the component of the Graphical User Interface which is currently selected. Text entered at the keyboard or pasted from a clipboard is sent to the component which currently has the focus.

The concept is similar to a cursor in a text-based environment. However, when considering a graphical interface, there is also a mouse cursor involved. Moving the mouse will typically move the mouse cursor without changing the focus. The focus can usually be changed by clicking on a component with the mouse.

Individual components may also have a cursor position. For instance in a text editing package, the text editing window must have the Focus so that text can be entered. When text is entered into the component, it will appear at the position of the text-cursor, which will also normally be moveable using the mouse cursor.