CSS allows the cursor to be specified when a specific context is desired. The :hover selector does not need to be used.
cursor: cursor-name;
General purpose cursors
auto
Automatically determine the cursor based on the current context. Mouseover text to get an i-beam, a link to get a pointer, etc. The standard behavior.
default
The default cursor, usually an arrow.
none
You should not see the cursor.
Links and status cursors
context-menu
Cursor indicating that there is a context menu there or the cursor is in context menu mode. Often an arrow cursor with a small representation of a context menu.
help
Help cursor, often a question mark.
pointer
A hand with index finger extended.
progress
Cursor indicating work being done in the background, the user is still able to interact with the controls. Usually an arrow cursor with a timepiece or spinner animation.
wait
A watch or timepiece of some kind.
Selection cursors
cell
For selecting a cell or cells in a table, spreadsheet. A thick plus with often with a dot in the center.
crosshair
A crosshair for precision selecting.
text
The I-beam cursor
vertical-text
A horizontal I-Beam cursor for vertical text
Drag and drop cursors
alias
Cursor indicating an alias, symbolic link or other file/data indirection. Often a curved arrow.
copy
Cursor indicating that the dragged item may be copied. Usually an arrow cursor with a +.
move
The move cursor, usually a + with arrows on each end.
no-drop
not-allowed
Often a circle with a line through it
Resizing and scrolling cursors
e-resize
East or right resize.
ew-resize
East-West or horizontal resize.
ne-resize
North-East or upper right resize.
nesw-resize
North-East-South-West or diagonal resize.
nw-resize
North-West or upper left resize.
nwse-resize
North-West-South-East or diagonal resize.
n-resize
North or top resize.
ns-resize
North-south or vertical resize.
se-resize
South-East or bottom right resize.
sw-resize
s-resize
South or bottom resize.
w-resize
West or left resize.
col-resize
Column resize.
row-resize
Row resize.
all-scroll
Cursor that indicates scrolling in any direction. Often arrows in the four cardinal directions.
In this example we see that there is a second value, this is a fallback value that some browsers require before they will accept the custom cursor. You can use a PNG, GIF, SVG or .cur file for your cursor, .ani files only work in Internet Explorer.
↑ abcdSubstitute -webkit- for WebKit based browsers like Safari or Shiira, -moz- for Gecko based browsers like Firefox or Flock, -o- for Presto based browsers like Opera and -ms- for Internet Explorer.