Abstract: A user interface for a computer processes a directional selection command for selecting display data between a start cursor location and an end cursor location. Given a current end cursor location in the display data, a boundary in the display data of content which contains the current end cursor location is identified. When selecting display data in response to a directional selection command, the computer searches within the display data in the designated direction from a current end cursor location for a next instance of a pattern in the display data. The pattern depends on the command. If the identified boundary is reached before the next instance of the designated pattern, then the current end cursor location is moved to the identified boundary.