Is cursor: default the same as the arrow?

Yes. It maps to the Windows Normal Select role and the macOS Arrow. People with a custom Windows cursor scheme see their own arrow.

Should I use default or auto?

Use auto unless you have a reason. Pick default only where the I-beam would mislead, such as text labels in an app toolbar.

Can default be the fallback for a custom image?

Yes. cursor: url(arrow.png) 0 0, default; shows the plain arrow if the image fails to load or the browser rejects it.

cursor: default in CSS: force the plain arrow

cursor: default; Move your mouse over this box Cursors only appear with a mouse or trackpad. Open this page on a computer to see this one.

This is the cursor your browser and system draw for default.

What it shows

The standard arrow pointing up and to the left: Windows Normal Select (the Arrow role, aero_arrow.cur) and the macOS Arrow. It looks the same over text, images and empty space. If the visitor installed a custom Windows scheme, they see their own arrow.

Usage

When to use it

Use it for

Text that is really interface, not content: tab labels, toolbar items, menu entries and sidebar headings in a web app.
Canvas and editor apps where an I-beam over a label would suggest it can be edited.
Pair it with user-select: none on UI labels that should not be selectable at all, so the cursor and the behaviour agree.
Reset one region back to a plain arrow when a parent sets a custom cursor, such as the footer of a modal.

Avoid it for

Articles, docs and anything a reader might copy. Forcing the arrow makes text feel locked.
Links and buttons. Setting default on a link removes the hand people look for.

Code

Copy the snippet

CSS

.toolbar { cursor: default; user-select: none; }

HTML

<nav class="toolbar">
  <span>File</span> <span>Edit</span> <span>View</span>
</nav>

Support

Browsers and systems

Browser support for default
Browser	Support
Chrome	1
Edge	12
Firefox	1
Safari	1.2
Safari on iOS	no
Chrome on Android	18

The matching operating system cursor
System	Matching cursor
Windows role	Arrow
Windows file	`aero_arrow.cur`
macOS	Arrow

Watch out

Gotchas

default does not stop text selection. If a UI label should not be selectable, add user-select: none as well.
On iPad the pointer is a round dot that does not turn into an arrow, which is why MDN's data lists default as unsupported on iOS Safari.
Because cursor is inherited, default on a container also removes the I-beam from every paragraph inside it.

Free cursors

A custom default cursor

The same cursor from each of our packs, free under CC0. Move your mouse over one to try it, or open it for the .cur file, the PNG and the CSS.

FAQ

Questions

Is cursor: default the same as the arrow?: Yes. It maps to the Windows Normal Select role and the macOS Arrow. People with a custom Windows cursor scheme see their own arrow.
Should I use default or auto?: Use auto unless you have a reason. Pick default only where the I-beam would mislead, such as text labels in an app toolbar.
Can default be the fallback for a custom image?: Yes. cursor: url(arrow.png) 0 0, default; shows the plain arrow if the image fails to load or the browser rejects it.

More