A pointer or pointing stick is a solid rod used to point manually, in the form of a stick, but always finished off or artificially produced.
The typical pointer is simply a long, slender, often flexible stick made in a strong material, designed to indicate places on maps, words on blackboards etc.[1][2] In addition it may be used like any ordinary stick for other purposes, e.g. for punitive caning (compare rulering).[3]
Some are telescopic and can be carried in a pocket like a pen.