To prompt input and provide feedback on input to a user with an interface, inputs and graphical cursors associated with those inputs are defined. Each input may have several forms such as base, hover, engaged, completed, and error. User input is anticipated. The base form of the anticipated input cursor is displayed to prompt the user for the anticipated input. If user hover is detected that matches anticipated input, the hover form is displayed to confirm the match to the user. If user input is detected that matches anticipated input, the engaged form is displayed as confirmation. If user input is completed that matches anticipated input, the completed form is displayed as confirmation. If user hover or input does not match anticipated input, the error form is displayed to indicate mismatch. Not all cursors must have all forms, and some cursors may have multiples of some forms.