Notation
Almost everything you do when solving the Rubik's Cube will be accomplished by using algorithms or movesets which are sets of moves by rotating faces. All algorithms are written using notation, that designates which side will be moved how many times and in what direction. Different people use, read, and write different notations to represent these. Below are the common ones which I use, as well as other forms.
Face Names
The different faces of the cube have different names. Considering there are 6 different faces, here are the 6 names which I will refer to:
D - Down; the bottom or downmost face of the cube
U - Up; the top or upmost face of the cube
R - Right; the rightmost face of the cube
L - Left; the leftmost face of the cube
F - Front; the front face of the cube that is facing you
B - Back; the back face of the cube that is facing away from you
Face Names
The different faces of the cube have different names. Considering there are 6 different faces, here are the 6 names which I will refer to:
D - Down; the bottom or downmost face of the cube
U - Up; the top or upmost face of the cube
R - Right; the rightmost face of the cube
L - Left; the leftmost face of the cube
F - Front; the front face of the cube that is facing you
B - Back; the back face of the cube that is facing away from you
Direction of Movement and Amount
The direction that you move the face is determinant of whether or not there is a mark after the face name. In the algorithms on this website, there will not be a mark after the face name if the rotation is clockwise. A tick or apostrophe afterwards indicates that the movement is counter clockwise. This movement of clockwise or counter clockwise is done as if the face was moved as the front face.
Example: The letter R in an algorithm indicates a clockwise movement of the right face. That means the right side turns away from you.
Example 2: The letter D' in an algorithm indicates a counter clockwise movement of the bottom/down face. Specifically, this means the bottom right corner will rotate to the bottom left side.
Tip: The base movement of a face will turn the opposite direction of the base movement of a face of the opposite side. In example, the movement R moves away from you; the movement L moves towards you. However, the clockwise movement U (bottom right corner moves to bottom left) is the same as D' (bottom right corner moves to bottom left).
A single letter with or without an apostrophe designates only a single movement. If there is a 2 after the letter, it means an entire 180 degree rotation will be applied to the face indicated. Example, B2 means the back side will be moved twice.
Another alternative to the apostrophe mark aforementioned is the letter i. A letter of a face followed by the letter i means the same thing as if an apostrophe followed it. F' == Fi; Ui == U', etc., etc..
If none of that made sense, here is a guide to which corners will move when the base movement (clockwise, no apostrophe/i) is applied to a face specified.
D - Bottom left corner (of the front face) moves to bottom right
U - Bottom right corner (of the top face) moves to bottom left
R - Bottom right corner (of front face) moves to top right
L - Top left corner (of front face) moves to bottom left.
F - Top left corner (of front face) moves to top right
B - Top right corner (of top face) moves to top left
An apostrophe/tick/i indicates the opposite movement of what was mentioned above.
Example:
R' - Top right corner (of front face) moves to bottom right.
The direction that you move the face is determinant of whether or not there is a mark after the face name. In the algorithms on this website, there will not be a mark after the face name if the rotation is clockwise. A tick or apostrophe afterwards indicates that the movement is counter clockwise. This movement of clockwise or counter clockwise is done as if the face was moved as the front face.
Example: The letter R in an algorithm indicates a clockwise movement of the right face. That means the right side turns away from you.
Example 2: The letter D' in an algorithm indicates a counter clockwise movement of the bottom/down face. Specifically, this means the bottom right corner will rotate to the bottom left side.
Tip: The base movement of a face will turn the opposite direction of the base movement of a face of the opposite side. In example, the movement R moves away from you; the movement L moves towards you. However, the clockwise movement U (bottom right corner moves to bottom left) is the same as D' (bottom right corner moves to bottom left).
A single letter with or without an apostrophe designates only a single movement. If there is a 2 after the letter, it means an entire 180 degree rotation will be applied to the face indicated. Example, B2 means the back side will be moved twice.
Another alternative to the apostrophe mark aforementioned is the letter i. A letter of a face followed by the letter i means the same thing as if an apostrophe followed it. F' == Fi; Ui == U', etc., etc..
If none of that made sense, here is a guide to which corners will move when the base movement (clockwise, no apostrophe/i) is applied to a face specified.
D - Bottom left corner (of the front face) moves to bottom right
U - Bottom right corner (of the top face) moves to bottom left
R - Bottom right corner (of front face) moves to top right
L - Top left corner (of front face) moves to bottom left.
F - Top left corner (of front face) moves to top right
B - Top right corner (of top face) moves to top left
An apostrophe/tick/i indicates the opposite movement of what was mentioned above.
Example:
R' - Top right corner (of front face) moves to bottom right.
Interpreting Algorithms
Algorithms are really simple to read, and then therefore to perform. The easiest way for beginners is to read each individual letter and then perform it instead of a single sequence. Thinking of algorithms that way really helped me to learn them and in order to perform.
Here is an example algorithm that we are going to tear apart:
RUR'URU2R'
Despite looking scary and ominous, this is one of the algorithms you will use most in solving a Rubik's Cube. Let's tear it apart.
One of the things I do is put a space between every letter to easier distinguish between the different moves, and learn it better.
R U R' U R U2 R'
See? It's looking less scary already. Next thing I like to do is read each letter and put a visual image of what I'm going to do into my head. So, I'd separate each letter and interpret it as the move rather than notation, so it would look like this in my head:
1. Right face clockwise
2. Top face clockwise
3. Right face counterclockwise
4. Top face clockwise
5. Right face clockwise
6. Top face twice
7. Right face counterclockwise
Hopefully it doesn't look too complicated now, and you can effectively perform algorithms.
Tip: When I see, in an algorithm, a move; followed by another move on a face that touches that of the original movement; and then a move on the face of the original movement opposite of the original direction, it helps memorize it easier. Example of this case: (R U R' in our algorithm). It helps me memorize me by making me think like this:
1. The original movement (R), I refer to as the opening move, and I like to think it's a door opening.
2. The next movement (U), I refer to as the opened move, as I like to think it's a movement that can be done because of the opening move.
3. The last movement (U'), I refer to as the closing move, because it's reverse of the original door opening, so it's the door closing.
I don't know if that made any sense, but it's a little trick I use to learn algorithms.
Algorithms are really simple to read, and then therefore to perform. The easiest way for beginners is to read each individual letter and then perform it instead of a single sequence. Thinking of algorithms that way really helped me to learn them and in order to perform.
Here is an example algorithm that we are going to tear apart:
RUR'URU2R'
Despite looking scary and ominous, this is one of the algorithms you will use most in solving a Rubik's Cube. Let's tear it apart.
One of the things I do is put a space between every letter to easier distinguish between the different moves, and learn it better.
R U R' U R U2 R'
See? It's looking less scary already. Next thing I like to do is read each letter and put a visual image of what I'm going to do into my head. So, I'd separate each letter and interpret it as the move rather than notation, so it would look like this in my head:
1. Right face clockwise
2. Top face clockwise
3. Right face counterclockwise
4. Top face clockwise
5. Right face clockwise
6. Top face twice
7. Right face counterclockwise
Hopefully it doesn't look too complicated now, and you can effectively perform algorithms.
Tip: When I see, in an algorithm, a move; followed by another move on a face that touches that of the original movement; and then a move on the face of the original movement opposite of the original direction, it helps memorize it easier. Example of this case: (R U R' in our algorithm). It helps me memorize me by making me think like this:
1. The original movement (R), I refer to as the opening move, and I like to think it's a door opening.
2. The next movement (U), I refer to as the opened move, as I like to think it's a movement that can be done because of the opening move.
3. The last movement (U'), I refer to as the closing move, because it's reverse of the original door opening, so it's the door closing.
I don't know if that made any sense, but it's a little trick I use to learn algorithms.
Reading Algorithms (Aloud)
At some point, you may need to read an algorithm aloud. You could be reading them when solving, telling a friend an algorithm, or using that knowledge to hear and interpret algorithms in tutorial videos on YouTube.
When reading algorithms aloud, there are a few things you can do instead of just saying things like "Up, Right apostrophe, Left counterclockwise, etc."
First of all, the apostrophe/tick/i can be read aloud as "prime" or "inverted". Prime is the form that I've heard most, and is the easiest to read, and shortest to hear and recognize.
So, R' could be read as "Right prime" or "R prime".
Reading that last phrase brings us to the next tip about reading algorithms aloud, and that is saying the letters themselves instead of the full face name. So saying "R" instead of "right" or "right face".
The 2 in certain algorithms can be read as "twice" or simply "two" after the face letter, as written in the algorithm.
So, let's go back to algorithm from the last section.
R U R' U R U2 R'
Let's read this aloud.
Try to read it yourself if you want and just click the spoiler below to check your answer. Or you could just click the spoiler to see what I would read it as.
At some point, you may need to read an algorithm aloud. You could be reading them when solving, telling a friend an algorithm, or using that knowledge to hear and interpret algorithms in tutorial videos on YouTube.
When reading algorithms aloud, there are a few things you can do instead of just saying things like "Up, Right apostrophe, Left counterclockwise, etc."
First of all, the apostrophe/tick/i can be read aloud as "prime" or "inverted". Prime is the form that I've heard most, and is the easiest to read, and shortest to hear and recognize.
So, R' could be read as "Right prime" or "R prime".
Reading that last phrase brings us to the next tip about reading algorithms aloud, and that is saying the letters themselves instead of the full face name. So saying "R" instead of "right" or "right face".
The 2 in certain algorithms can be read as "twice" or simply "two" after the face letter, as written in the algorithm.
So, let's go back to algorithm from the last section.
R U R' U R U2 R'
Let's read this aloud.
Try to read it yourself if you want and just click the spoiler below to check your answer. Or you could just click the spoiler to see what I would read it as.
[Show Spoiler][Hide Spoiler]
R, U, R prime, U, R, U two, R prime
R, U, R prime, U, R, U two, R prime
Final Thoughts
So, hopefully you've learned a bit more about notation and algorithms than you knew before. If there was any part of it that you didn't understand, feel free to send a complaint via the Contact page of the website. Hopefully, I can clarify anything that may be hard to understand. And, if needed, pictures and videos can be incorporated.
If you feel that you understand the concept, feel free to move on to the next section: White Cross.
So, hopefully you've learned a bit more about notation and algorithms than you knew before. If there was any part of it that you didn't understand, feel free to send a complaint via the Contact page of the website. Hopefully, I can clarify anything that may be hard to understand. And, if needed, pictures and videos can be incorporated.
If you feel that you understand the concept, feel free to move on to the next section: White Cross.
If you are wondering about notation you may have found elsewhere that isn't covered here, check out Advanced Notation.