Definition of mouse over

The term "mouse over" in computing refers to the action of moving the mouse cursor over a particular area of the screen, typically resulting in the display of additional information or functionality. The phrase "mouse over" came into use in the mid-1980s when graphical user interfaces, like Apple's Lisa and Microsoft's Windows, became popular. At the time, computer mice, which resembled small handles with a ball inside, were gaining in popularity as a more intuitive and intuitive way to navigate computer interfaces. As users interacted with these systems, they noticed that moving the mouse pointer over certain objects on the screen would cause them to change color, underline, or display additional information. This behavior was first described as "highlighting" or "rolling over" these objects, but as the mouse became a ubiquitous part of computer interfaces and the term "highlighting" became associated with text formatting, "mouse over" became the more commonly used term to describe this interaction. Today, "mouse over" is an integral part of user interface design, providing users with quick previews and feedback about the functions and information available in a given application.