Most of the time an arrow symbol appears on my screen as I move my mouse. When I place the arrow on an icon on my desktop and click the mouse the symbol turns into an hourglass (telling me, I suppose, that my pc is at work loading an URL.) I understand that.

But many times it seems as if the pointer symbol takes on other shapes. Sometimes I see a vertical line; sometimes a four-headed arrow. Often the symbol changes as I move the mouse pointer from one quadrant of my desktop to another.

I’m curious about what each symbol shape is supposed to be representing. Can someone please point me to an explanation? Thanks.