pointer

Anything that points or is used for pointing.

A teacher's pointer, pointing stick, a rod with an arrow.

A needle-like component of a timepiece or measuring device that indicates the time or the current reading of the device.

A breed of hunting dog, trained to point out game.

A variable that holds the address of a memory location where a value can be stored.

An icon that indicates the position of the pointing device, such as a mouse.

(chiefly in the plural) A tip, a bit of advice.

“The instructor gave me some pointers on writing a good paper.”

(in combinations) Something worth a given number of points.

“a ten-pointer”