Directional pad

From Wikia Gaming, your source for walkthroughs, games, guides, and more!

D-Pad, the cross shaped directional input pad used on most video game console controllers since it's introduction in the Game & Watch series of portable games. The D-Pad was invented by Gunpei Yokoi.

The 'D' stands for directional, as the primary function of the D-pad is to navigate menus or move an avatar around. Though it originally was made to point in four directions, later versions allowed it to be pointed in eight, by using the thumb to press both up or down and left or right at the same time.