A joystick is a control device with a vertical stick that tilts in different directions to control movement on a screen or operate a machine. Push the stick forward and your character moves forward; tilt it left and you turn left. The stick usually sits on a base and springs back to center when you let go.

Joysticks became famous with arcade games and flight simulators, where pushing and pulling the stick felt natural, like steering a plane. Pilots use joysticks to control real aircraft, moving the stick to adjust the plane's direction and altitude. The design makes sense: your hand movements directly match what you want to happen.

Today, you might use a joystick for video games, flying drones, or operating construction equipment. Some wheelchairs use joysticks for precise control. While modern game controllers often use thumb sticks instead (smaller versions built into handheld controllers), the classic arcade joystick remains a symbol of gaming's early days, when tilting that one stick could mean the difference between setting a high score and hearing “game over.”