In virtual reality, teleportation is a locomotion technique that lets users move by pointing to a destination and teleporting there.
A user typically aims at a spot with a handheld controller, selects it, and then appears at that location in the simulated environment. The technique became common in consumer VR because it allows movement through large virtual spaces without requiring an equally large physical room.
Teleportation is also used to reduce discomfort. Continuous movement, especially movement controlled by a thumbstick while the body remains stationary, can create a mismatch between visual motion and signals from the inner ear. This sensory conflict is a major contributor to cybersickness, including nausea and dizziness.
Teleportation is different from room-scale movement, in which the system tracks a user's real physical steps, and from free locomotion, in which the user moves continuously through the virtual world. Some applications combine teleportation with short-distance physical movement or smooth turning. Developers may also offer comfort options such as snap turning, which rotates the view in discrete increments rather than continuously.