The moveable, heart-shaped indicator on a Ouija board is called a planchette. Participants place their fingers on it, and it slides across the board to point to letters, numbers, or printed responses.
The word planchette comes from French and means “little plank.” Early versions were small writing devices used in spiritualist practices before the familiar Ouija design became popular. Modern planchettes are commonly made of wood or plastic and often include a window, pointer, or other marking to indicate selected characters.
Ouija boards typically display the alphabet, the numbers 0 through 9, and words such as “yes” and “no.” The board’s name is a trademark inherited by Hasbro, although people often use “Ouija” generically for talking boards.
The movement is traditionally explained by spirit communication, but psychologists commonly associate it with the ideomotor effect: participants can make small, involuntary movements without consciously realizing they are guiding the planchette. “Planchette” is the specific name for the indicator, not the board itself.