D-pad

A D-pad (short for directional pad) is a directional input method developed for video games. The flat plastic top is typically operated by a person's thumb. The plastic rests on four internal switches, each functioning like a push-button. When a person presses a direction on the D-Pad, it will press down one of the switches (for up, right, down, or left) or press down two of the switches (for diagonal directions), offering eight total directions at 45-degree intervals. Most D-Pads contain a hard pivot beneath the center of the plastic. This pivot will prevent the plastic from being pressed onto all four buttons and will cause it to tilt in the direction pressed.

D-pads are found on nearly all modern gamepads and handheld game consoles. Although D-pads offer less flexibility than analog sticks, they offer high accuracy and can be manipulated with minimal movement by the thumb. They require comparatively little maintenance and their minimal profile makes them ideal for portable devices. D-pads have appeared on audiovisual device remote controls, calculators, PDAs, mobile phones, and car stereos. Outside of gaming, some D-pads have a central "OK" or "select" button instead of a pivot point in the center.