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Home > Improvement Zone > 4x4 Guides > 4x4 Notation
Official 4x4 Notation
The WCA 4x4 notation is the official notation set out by the World Cubing Association and is the correct notation for all official WCA scrambles. In the images below the part of the puzzle that is greyed out is the part of the puzzle which does not move. The pieces in colour are the pieces that we will rotate.
Please Note: All images used in this guide are generic pictures of 4x4 Speed Cubes and may not be genuine Rubik's brand cubes. All images are for illustrational and educational purposes only
Single Layer Turns (Outer)
When You see an UPPERCASE 'F' you should move the front most layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'B' you should move the far back most layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'U' you should move the top most layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'D' you should move the bottom layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'R you should move the far right layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an UPPERCASE 'L' you should move the far left layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
Single Layer Turns (Inner)
There are no official WCA moves for inner slice moves. These are unofficial notations but used throughout the world of speedcubing. you will see these moves come up in many algorithms throughout various different methods.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'f' you should move the inner-front layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'b' you should move the inner-back layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'u' you should move the inner-top layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'd' you should move the inner-bottom layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'r' you should move the inner-right layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
When You see an LOWERCASE 'l' you should move the inner-left most layer in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotation.
Dual Layer Turns (Official WCA Notation)
The following list of wide layer moves are the WCA official notation. However, you will find many websites and other people use a slightly different notation. This will be shown further down the page under the "Unofficial Notations" heading.
When you see 'Fw' this indicates to move both of the front most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Bw' this indicates to move both of the back most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Uw' this indicates to move both of the top most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Dw' this indicates to move both of the bottom most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Rw' this indicates to move both of the right most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Lw' this indicates to move both of the left most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
Dual Layer Turns (Unofficial Notation)
The following list of unofficial wide layer moves are not used by the WCA, however, many different websites and algorithms use moves such as 'Ff' apposed to the above 'Fw' wca version.
When you see 'Ff' this indicates to move both of the front most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Bb' this indicates to move both of the back most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Uu' this indicates to move both of the top most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Dd' this indicates to move both of the bottom most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Rr' this indicates to move both of the right most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
When you see 'Ll' this indicates to move both of the left most layers in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise rotations.
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