Editing Analog stick (section)

{{short description|Input device for a video game controller}}
{{more sources|date=March 2024}}
[[File:GameCube Analog Stick.jpg|thumb|right|The [[GameCube controller]] analog stick]]
<!-- To a certain extent, this definition is speculative, based on personal experience. -->
An '''analog stick''' ('''analogue stick''' in British English), also known as a '''control stick''', '''thumbstick''' or '''joystick''', is an input method designed for [[video game]]s that translates thumb movement into directional control. It consists of a protruding stick mounted on a pivot, with movement registered through continuous electrical signals rather than discrete switches, allowing for greater nuance than traditional digital inputs.

Unlike [[D-pad]]s, which rely on fixed electrical contacts, analog sticks use [[potentiometers]] to measure their position across a full range of motion. Many models allow the stick to be pressed down like a button, allowing users to execute commands without removing their thumb from the stick. Since its introduction, the analog stick has largely replaced the D-pad as the primary directional input in modern game controllers.