Rubik's Cube · Glossary
Every common Rubik's Cube term on one page, each with a plain explanation and an example, linked back to the beginner lessons.
- Centercenter
- The single-coloured piece in the middle of each face. The six centers never move relative to each other and define each face's target colour.
- Edgeedge
- A two-coloured piece on the border between two faces; there are 12.
- Cornercorner
- A three-coloured piece where three faces meet; there are 8.
- Notationnotation
- U D L R F B denote 90° clockwise turns of the six faces; ' means counter-clockwise, 2 means 180°. Lowercase letters turn two layers; x y z rotate the whole cube.
- Algorithmalg
- A fixed sequence of turns that changes specific pieces without disturbing what's already solved.
- Triggertrigger
- A short recurring fragment inside algorithms, such as R U R' U'. Chunking algorithms into triggers makes them easier to learn and faster to execute.R U R' U'
- Sexy move
- Community name for R U R' U', the most common four-move trigger; six repetitions return to start.R U R' U'
- Sledgehammer
- R' F R F', another high-frequency four-move trigger.R' F R F'
- Sune
- R U R' U R U2 R'. Twists three top corners; named for the fish-like shape on top.R U R' U R U2 R'
- Layer by LayerLBL
- The beginner's method: solve the bottom, middle and top layers in turn with about 7 algorithms.
- CFOPFridrich
- Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL — the mainstream speedsolving method, popularised by Jessica Fridrich.
- Cross
- First step of CFOP: place the four bottom edges to form a cross. Always possible in 8 moves or fewer.
- F2LFirst Two Layers
- First Two Layers: pair each corner with the edge above it and insert together; four slots.R U R'
- OLLOrientation of the Last Layer
- Orient the last layer so the top face is one colour: 57 cases, or about 7 algorithms in the two-look version.
- PLLPermutation of the Last Layer
- Permute the last layer's pieces into place once oriented: 21 cases.R U R' U' R' F R2 U' R' U' R U R' F'
- AUFAdjust U Face
- The U, U' or U2 before or after an algorithm that aligns the top layer.
- Lookahead
- Tracking the pieces for the next step while executing the current one; the core skill for eliminating pauses.
- Finger tricks
- Turning layers with individual finger flicks instead of wrist turns; the basis of speedsolving.
- Inspection
- The 15 seconds before the timer starts in WCA competition; you may look but not turn.
- DNFDid Not Finish
- The attempt doesn't count — for example, stopping the timer unsolved or exceeding the time limit.
- Ao5Average of 5
- Drop the best and worst of five attempts and average the rest — the standard WCA ranking format.
- God's Number
- Any 3x3 position can be solved in 20 face turns or fewer, proven by computation in 2010.
- Superflip
- Every edge in place but flipped; needs exactly 20 moves and was the first position proven to reach God's Number.U R2 F B R B2 R U2 L B2 R U' D' R2 F R' L B2 U2 F2
- Parity
- On a 3x3 it's impossible to flip a single edge or swap just two pieces; such states only arise from reassembling the cube.
- WCAWorld Cube Association
- The World Cube Association, founded in 2004, governs competition rules and keeps world results.