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3x3 Rubik's Cube Notation Explained: U, D, L, R, F, B

Tap a notation to see what it means.

U (Up)

Turning the top face of the cube 90 degrees clockwise, as viewed from the front.

D (Down)

Turning the bottom face of the cube 90 degrees clockwise.

L (Left)

Turning the left face of the cube 90 degrees clockwise.

R (Right)

Turning the right face of the cube 90 degrees clockwise.

F (Front)

Turning the front face of the cube 90 degrees clockwise.

B (Back)

Turning the back face of the cube 90 degrees clockwise.

' (Prime) After a Letter

Means to turn that face 90 degrees counterclockwise instead of clockwise β€” for example, U' means turning the top face counterclockwise.

2 After a Letter

Means to turn that face 180 degrees (twice) instead of 90 β€” for example, U2 means turning the top face 180 degrees.

Lowercase Letters (e.g., u, r)

A "wide move," meaning to turn that face together with the layer beneath (or beside) it as one combined block.

Understand the Notation Before Memorizing Algorithms

Search for cube-solving algorithms online and you'll find sequences of letters and symbols. Understanding what this notation means first is essential to following any algorithm accurately. Learning just the 6 basic face letters plus the prime and double notation is enough to read most algorithms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is U' different from U2?

U' means turning the top face 90 degrees counterclockwise, while U2 means turning the top face 180 degrees (twice) regardless of direction β€” they are different moves.

Can I solve the cube just by knowing the notation?

Notation is just the language for reading algorithms β€” to actually solve the cube, you also need to learn a separate method, such as layer-by-layer or CFOP.