puntero

Puntero is a Spanish noun and, in some uses, an adjective, employed to designate something that points or indicates a reference point. The term comes from punta, meaning tip or point, with the agentive suffix -ero forming words like puntero or puntera, “one who points.” In ordinary speech it is used for objects with a pointing function, for example a pointer tool, or the cursor on a computer screen, which is commonly called el puntero.

In computing and programming contexts, puntero refers to a pointer, a variable that stores a memory address. It is standard in Spanish-language textbooks and documentation. Pointers are central in languages such as C and C++, where operations include dereferencing the puntero to access the stored value. Punteros are described with types, such as puntero a entero or puntero a estructura.

In sports and rankings, puntero denotes the leading competitor or team—the one at the top of the standings. A league’s puntero is the current leader, and the term can also refer to top scorers or the leading group, depending on the context.

In user interfaces and devices, puntero is used for the on-screen cursor; for example, el puntero del ratón refers to the mouse pointer. The compound puntero láser is used to describe a laser pointer.

Usage varies by country and regional practice, but the core senses of pointing, leading, and indicating remain the common threads across Spanish-speaking contexts.