What is a home indicator?

A "Home Indicator" is a term commonly used in the context of touchscreen devices such as smartphones and tablets, especially those running the iOS (Apple) or Android (Google) operating systems.

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The Home Indicator is typically a small visual indicator at the bottom of the screen that informs users that they can return to the device's home screen by tapping or swiping in that area. This is particularly relevant when the device does not have a physical home button or when the physical button is no longer present, as is the case with some newer iPhone models.

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For example, on the iPhone X and later models, the Home Indicator replaced the physical home button. Users can swipe up from the Home Indicator on the screen to return to the home screen. Similar concepts exist on Android devices, where gestures are used to switch between screens or return to the home screen.

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The Home Indicator is, therefore, an important component of the user interface that facilitates navigation and interaction on the device.