View source for Rubik's Cube

{{Short description|3D combination puzzle}}
{{Pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox toy
| name       = Rubik's Cube
| image      = Rubiks cube solved.jpg
| othernames = Magic Cube, Cube
| type       = [[Combination puzzle]]
| inventor   = [[Ernő Rubik]]
| country    = [[Hungary]]
| company    = Rubik's Brand Ltd ([[Spin Master]])<ref name="Evans">{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Pete |date=27 October 2020 |title=Canadian company that owns classic toys Etch A Sketch and Aerobie buys Rubik's Cube for $50M |publisher=[[CBC News]] |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/spin-master-rubik-s-cube-1.5778252}}</ref>
| from       = 1977: as Hungarian Magic Cube, first test batches released in Budapest{{Break}}As Rubik's Cube, worldwide, 1980
| to         = present
| website    = https://rubiks.com
}}
[[File:Rubik's cube.svg|thumb|right|An illustration of an unsolved Rubik's Cube]]

The '''Rubik's Cube''' is a [[Three-dimensional space|3D]] [[combination puzzle]] invented in 1974<ref name="sporting">{{Cite book |last=Fotheringham |first=William |url=https://archive.org/details/fotheringhamsext0000foth/page/50 |title=Fotheringham's Sporting Pastimes |publisher=Anova Books |year=2007 |isbn=978-1-86105-953-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/fotheringhamsext0000foth/page/50 50]}}</ref><ref name="castel">{{Cite news |last=de Castella |first=Tom |date=28 April 2014 |title=The people who are still addicted to the Rubik's Cube |work=BBC News Magazine |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27186297 |access-date=28 April 2014}}</ref> by [[Hungarians|Hungarian]] sculptor and professor of architecture [[Ernő Rubik]]. Originally called the '''Magic Cube''',<ref name=":0" /> the puzzle was licensed by Rubik to be sold by [[Pentangle (puzzle supplier)|Pentangle Puzzles]] in the UK in 1978,<ref>{{Cite web |title=25th Anniversa[r]y of Erno Rubik's Magic Cube. First introduced to the Western World by Pentangle Puzzles in 1978. |url=https://www.puzzlemuseum.com/month/picm03/200301mcu.htm |access-date=29 November 2020 |website=puzzlemuseum.com}}</ref> and then by [[Ideal Toy Company|Ideal Toy Corp]] in 1980<ref name="encsci">{{Cite book |last=Daintith |first=John |title=A Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists |publisher=Institute of Physics Pub |year=1994 |isbn=0-7503-0287-9 |location=Bristol |page=771}}</ref> via businessman Tibor Laczi and Seven Towns founder [[Tom Kremer]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Michael Shanks |date=8 May 2005 |title=History of the Cube |url=http://documents.stanford.edu/67/276 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120065022/http://documents.stanford.edu/67/276 |archive-date=20 January 2013 |access-date=26 July 2012 |publisher=Stanford University}}</ref> The cube was released internationally in 1980 and became one of the most recognized icons in popular culture. It won the 1980 [[Spiel des Jahres|German Game of the Year]] special award for Best Puzzle. {{As of|2024|1}}, around 500&nbsp;million cubes had been sold worldwide,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Prakash |first1=Prarthana |title=How the Rubik's Cube has lived to 50 years—and continues to be popular among members of Gen Z and beyond |url=https://fortune.com/europe/2024/01/14/rubiks-cube-erno-rubik-spin-master-50-years-speed-cubing-games-gen-z/ |website=Fortune Europe |access-date=3 April 2024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Adams |first=William Lee |date=28 January 2009 |title=The Rubik's Cube: A Puzzling Success |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1874509,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201200141/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1874509,00.html |archive-date=1 February 2009 |access-date=5 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jamieson |first=Alastair |date=31 January 2009 |title=Rubik's Cube inventor is back with Rubik's 360 |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/4412176/Rubiks-Cube-inventor-is-back-with-Rubiks-360.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 February 2009 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/4412176/Rubiks-Cube-inventor-is-back-with-Rubiks-360.html |archive-date=11 January 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{update after|2026|5|06|reason=Citations need to be updated the}} making it the world's bestselling puzzle game<ref>{{Cite news |date=6 February 2008 |title=eGames, Mindscape Put International Twist on Rubik's Cube PC Game |work=[[Reuters]] |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS147698+06-Feb-2008+PNW20080206 |url-status=dead |access-date=6 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212135842/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS147698+06-Feb-2008+PNW20080206 |archive-date=12 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Ray |title=Squaring up to the Rubchallenge |url=http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/1000expats/expatsfeatures/tm_objectid%3D15786140%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50080%26headline%3Dsquaring-up-to-the-rubik-challenge-name_page.html |access-date=15 August 2005 |url-status=dead |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120065039/http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/1000expats/expatsfeatures/tm_objectid%3D15786140%26method%3Dfull%26siteid%3D50080%26headline%3Dsquaring-up-to-the-rubik-challenge-name_page.html }}</ref> and bestselling toy.<ref>{{Cite news |date=16 August 2007 |title=Rubik's Cube 25 years on: crazy toys, crazy times |work=[[The Independent]] |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/rubiks-cube-25-years-on-crazy-toys-crazy-times-461768.html |access-date=6 February 2009}}</ref> The Rubik's Cube was inducted into the US [[National Toy Hall of Fame]] in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Toy Hall Of Fame 2014 - CBS News |date=6 November 2014 |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/national-toy-hall-of-fame-2014/11/ |publisher=[[CBS News]]}}</ref>

On the original, classic Rubik's Cube, each of the six faces was covered by nine stickers, with each face in one of six solid colours:<!-- Note: It has been decided (see Talk page) that [[British English]] spelling (colours, not colors) will be used on this page. --> white, red, blue, orange, green and yellow. Some later versions of the cube have been updated to use coloured plastic panels instead. Since 1988, the arrangement of colours has been standardised, with white opposite yellow, blue opposite green and orange opposite red, and with the red, white and blue arranged clockwise, in that order.<ref name="encgrow">{{Cite book |last=Dempsey |first=Michael W. |title=Growing up with science: The illustrated encyclopedia of invention |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |year=1988 |isbn=0-87475-841-6 |location=London |page=1245}}</ref> On early cubes, the position of the colours varied from cube to cube.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Ewing |first1=John |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=s1E4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA4 |title=Puzzle It Out: Cubes, Groups and Puzzles |last2=Czes Kosniowski |date=1982 |publisher=Press Syndicate of the University of Cambridge |isbn=0-521-28924-6 |location=Cambridge |page=4 |access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

[[File:Salaryman and Rubiks Cube - Japan - 2008 2 2.webm|thumb|thumbtime=32|A [[salaryman]] trying to solve a Rubik's Cube in an [[izakaya]] after work in [[Japan]], 2008]]
An internal pivot mechanism enables each layer to turn independently, thus mixing up the colours. For the puzzle to be solved, each face must be returned to having only one colour. The cube has inspired other designers to create a number of similar puzzles with various numbers of sides, dimensions and mechanisms.

Although the Rubik's Cube reached the height of its mainstream popularity in the 1980s, it is still widely known and used. Many [[speedcubing|speedcubers]] continue to practise it and similar puzzles, competing for the fastest times in various categories. Since 2003, the [[World Cube Association]] (WCA), the international governing body of the Rubik's Cube, has organised competitions worldwide and has recognised world records.

==History==
===Precursors===
[[File:Patent US3655201.png|thumb|Diagram from Nichols' patent showing a cube held together with magnets]]

In March 1970, [[Larry D. Nichols]] invented a [[Pocket Cube|2x2x2]] "Puzzle with Pieces Rotatable in Groups" and filed a Canadian patent application for it. Nichols's cube was held together by magnets. Nichols was granted {{US patent|3655201}} on 11 April 1972, two years before Rubik invented his Cube.

On 9 April 1970, Frank Fox applied to patent an "amusement device", a type of [[sliding puzzle]] on a spherical surface with "at least two 3×3 arrays" intended to be used for the game of [[noughts and crosses]]. He received his UK patent (1344259) on 16 January 1974.<ref name="frankfoxpatent">{{Cite web |title=Patent Specification 1344259 |url=http://www.jaapsch.net/puzzles/patents/gb1344259.pdf |access-date=15 June 2012}}</ref>

===Rubik's invention===
In the mid-1970s, Ernő Rubik worked at the Department of Interior Design at the [[Moholy-Nagy University of Art and Design|Academy of Applied Arts and Crafts]] in Budapest.<ref name="ampop">{{Cite book |last=Sagert |first=Kelly Boyer |url=https://archive.org/details/s00sage |title=The 1970s (American Popular Culture Through History) |publisher=Greenwood Press |year=2007 |isbn=978-0-313-33919-6 |location=Westport, Conn |page=[https://archive.org/details/s00sage/page/n150 130] |url-access=limited}}</ref> Although it is widely reported that the Cube was built as a teaching tool to help his students understand 3D objects, his actual purpose was solving the structural problem of moving the parts independently without the entire mechanism falling apart.  He did not realise that he had created a puzzle until the first time he scrambled his new Cube and then tried to restore it, which took him about a month to solve himself.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 December 2006 |title=Rubik's Cube |url=http://www.puzzlesolver.com/puzzle.php?id=29;page=15 |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=PuzzleSolver}}</ref> Rubik applied for a [[patent]] in Hungary for his "Magic Cube" ({{langx|hu|bűvös kocka}}) on 30 January 1975,<ref name=":0">{{Cite magazine |date=30 January 2009 |title=Jan. 30, 1975: Rubik Applies for Patent on Magic Cube |url=https://www.wired.com/2009/01/dayintech-0130/ |magazine=Wired |access-date=24 January 2019 }}</ref> and HU170062 was granted later that year. He wrote his experience in his book, Cubed: The Book of Us All.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Pekonen |first=Osmo |title=Cubed: The Puzzle of Us All by Erno Rubik |journal = Math Intelligencer | volume = 43| pages = 148–149 | year = 2021 |issue=2 |doi = 10.1007/s00283-021-10041-5|doi-access = free }}</ref>

The first test batches of the Magic Cube were produced in late 1977 and released in toy shops in [[Budapest]]. Magic Cube was held together with interlocking plastic pieces that prevented the puzzle from being easily pulled apart, unlike the magnets in Nichols's design. With Ernő Rubik's permission, businessman Tibor Laczi took a Cube to Germany's [[Nuremberg]] Toy Fair in February 1979 in an attempt to popularise it.<ref name="holper">{{Cite book |last=Holper |first=Paul |title=Inventing Millions |publisher=Orient |year=2006 |isbn=8122204589 |pages=64–65}}</ref> It was noticed by Seven Towns founder Tom Kremer, and they signed a deal with Ideal Toys in September 1979 to release the Magic Cube worldwide.<ref name="holper" /> Ideal wanted at least a recognisable name to trademark; that arrangement put Rubik in the spotlight because the Magic Cube was renamed after its inventor in 1980. [[File:Original Rubik's cube from 1980.jpg|thumb|Original Rubik's Cube - Ideal Toy Corp., made in Hungary 1980|left]]The puzzle made its international debut at the toy fairs of London, Paris, Nuremberg, and New York in January and February 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 2008 |title=History |url=http://www.gyorgykata.hu/design/rubik/demo/cubehistory.html |access-date=25 January 2019 |publisher=Rubiks |archive-date=26 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126055921/http://www.gyorgykata.hu/design/rubik/demo/cubehistory.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

After its international debut, the progress of the Cube towards the toy shop shelves of the West was briefly halted so that it could be manufactured to Western safety and packaging specifications. A lighter Cube was produced, and Ideal decided to rename it. "[[Gordian Knot|The Gordian Knot]]" and "Inca Gold" were considered, but the company finally decided on "Rubik's Cube", and the first batch was exported from Hungary in May 1980.<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 January 2019 |title=About |url=https://uk.rubiks.com/about/ |access-date=25 January 2019 |publisher=Rubiks |archive-date=14 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180814040226/https://uk.rubiks.com/about |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The packaging had a few variations depending on the country, most popular being a clear plastic cylinder but cardboard versions were also used. The cube itself had slightly different variations in the order of the colours (Western vs. Japanese colour scheme where blue/yellow are switched) and some of the cubes did not have a white piece logo.

===1980s Cube craze===
[[File:Expo 82 Rubik's Cube.jpg|thumb|left|The world's largest Rubik's Cube was constructed for the [[1982 World's Fair]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]].]]
After the first batches of Rubik's Cubes were released in May 1980, initial sales were modest, but Ideal began a television advertising campaign in the middle of the year which it supplemented with newspaper advertisements.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dougherty |first=Philip H. |date=30 July 1981 |title=Advertising Ideal Toy's Son of Rubik Cube |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1981/07/30/business/advertising-ideal-toy-s-son-of-rubik-cube.html}}</ref> At the end of 1980, Rubik's Cube won a German Game of the Year special award<ref name="carlisle">{{Cite book |last=Carlisle |first=Rodney P. |url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaplay00carl |title=Encyclopedia of Play in Today's Society |publisher=Sage |year=2009 |isbn=978-1452266107 |page=[https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaplay00carl/page/n622 612] |url-access=limited}}</ref> and won similar awards for best toy in the UK, France, and the US.<ref name="europa">{{Cite web |title=Interview with Ernő Rubik |url=http://www.create2009.europa.eu/ambassadors/profiles/erno_rubik.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180527190611/http://www.create2009.europa.eu/ambassadors/profiles/erno_rubik.html |archive-date=27 May 2018 |access-date=26 October 2016 |publisher=Europa}}</ref> By 1981, Rubik's Cube had become a craze, and it is estimated that in the period from 1980 to 1983 around 200&nbsp;million Rubik's Cubes were sold worldwide.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singmaster |first=David |title=The Lighter Side of Mathematics: Proceedings of the Eugène Strens Memorial Conference on Recreational Mathematics and Its History |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1994 |isbn=088385516X |editor-last=Guy |editor-first=Richard K. |page=[https://archive.org/details/lightersideofmat0000unse/page/340 340] |chapter=The Utility of Recreational Mathematics |author-link=David Singmaster |editor-last2=Woodrow |editor-first2=Robert E. |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/lightersideofmat0000unse/page/340}} Singmaster [http://www.cube20.org/cubelovers/CL28/046.txt estimates] the numbers sold were between 100 and 300 million. His estimate is based on sales of 50 to 100&nbsp;million legitimate cubes and perhaps a higher number of imitations.</ref> In March 1981, a [[speedcubing]] championship organised by the [[Guinness Book of World Records]] was held in [[Munich]],<ref name="carlisle" /> and a Rubik's Cube was depicted on the front cover of ''[[Scientific American]]'' that same month.<ref name="batchelor">{{Cite book |last1=Batchelor |first1=Bob |url=https://archive.org/details/1980s0000batc/page/97 |title=The 1980s |last2=Stoddart |first2=Scott |publisher=Greenwood |year=2007 |isbn=978-0313330001 |page=[https://archive.org/details/1980s0000batc/page/97 97]}}</ref> In June 1981, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reported that Rubik's Cube is "a puzzle that's moving like fast food right now ... this year's [[Hula hoop|Hoola Hoop]] or [[Balance board|Bongo Board]]",<ref name="allen">{{Cite news |last=Allen |first=Henry |date=10 June 1981 |title=The Cube |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/06/10/the-cube/6142c377-a12c-4c0a-ad26-a06538749964/}}</ref> and by September 1981, ''[[New Scientist]]'' noted that the cube had "captivated the attention of children of ages from 7 to 70 all over the world this summer."<ref name="herman">{{Cite news |last=Herman |first=Ros |date=10 September 1981 |title=Cubic mastery |work=New Scientist |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jpr_dn_0IfEC&pg=PA678 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200819133107/https://books.google.com/books?id=jpr_dn_0IfEC&pg=PA678 |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 August 2020 }}</ref>

As most people could solve only one or two sides, numerous books were published including [[David Singmaster]]'s ''Notes on Rubik's "Magic Cube"'' (1980) and Patrick Bossert's ''You Can Do the Cube'' (1981).<ref name="carlisle" /> At one stage in 1981, three of the top ten best selling books in the US were books on solving Rubik's Cube,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Singmaster |first=David |title=The Lighter Side of Mathematics: Proceedings of the Eugène Strens Memorial Conference on Recreational Mathematics and Its History |publisher=Cambridge University Press |year=1994 |isbn=088385516X |editor-last=Guy |editor-first=Richard K. |page=[https://archive.org/details/lightersideofmat0000unse/page/340 340] |chapter=The Utility of Recreational Mathematics |author-link=David Singmaster |editor-last2=Woodrow |editor-first2=Robert E. |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/lightersideofmat0000unse/page/340}}</ref> and the best-selling book of 1981 was James G. Nourse's ''[[The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube]]'' which sold over 6&nbsp;million copies.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hanauer |first=Joan |date=5 January 1982 |title=The man who wrote the best-selling book of 1981 |work=United Press International |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/01/05/BEST-SELLER/3264379054800/}}</ref> In 1981, the [[Museum of Modern Art]] in New York exhibited a Rubik's Cube, and at the [[1982 World's Fair]] in [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]], Tennessee a six-foot Cube was put on display.<ref name="carlisle" /> In 1983, [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC Television]] released a cartoon show called ''[[Rubik, the Amazing Cube]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Terrace |first=Vincent |title=Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 |publisher=McFarland |year=2008 |isbn=978-0786486410 |page=915}}</ref> In June 1982, the [[1982 World Rubik's Cube Championship|First Rubik's Cube World Championship]] took place in [[Budapest]] and would become the only competition recognized as official until the championship was revived in 2003.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scheffler |first=Ian |title=Cracking the Cube |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2016 |isbn=978-1501121944 |page=88}}</ref>

In October 1982, ''[[The New York Times]]'' reported that sales had fallen and that "the craze has died",<ref name="nytimes">{{Cite news |date=30 October 1982 |title=Rubik's Cube: A Craze Ends |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/10/30/business/rubik-s-cube-a-craze-ends.html}}</ref> and by 1983 it was clear that sales had plummeted.<ref name="carlisle" /> However, in some countries such as China and the USSR, the craze had started later and demand was still high because of a shortage of Cubes.<ref>{{Cite news |date=22 February 1982 |title=China facing Rubik Cube shortage |work=United Press International |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/02/22/China-facing-Rubik-Cube-shortage/4252383202000/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Reed |first=Steven R. |date=8 December 1982 |title=Russians Queue for Rubik's Cube |work=United Press International |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/12/08/Russians-Queue-for-Rubiks-Cube/9098408171600/}}</ref>

===21st-century revival===
Rubik's Cubes continued to be marketed and sold throughout the 1980s and 1990s,<ref name="carlisle" /> but it was not until the early 2000s that interest in the Cube began increasing again.<ref name="harris">{{Cite book |last=Harris |first=Dan |title=Speedsolving the Cube |publisher=Sterling |year=2008 |isbn=978-1402753138 |page=3}}</ref> In the US, sales doubled between 2001 and 2003, and ''[[The Boston Globe]]'' remarked that it was "becoming cool to own a Cube again".<ref name="noonan">{{Cite news |last=Noonan |first=Erica |date=8 November 2003 |title=Let's twist again |work=Boston Globe |url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/games/articles/2003/11/08/lets_twist_again/}}</ref> The [[2003 Rubik's Cube World Championship]] was the first speedcubing tournament since 1982.<ref name="harris" /> It was held in [[Toronto]] and was attended by 83 participants.<ref name="harris" /> The tournament led to the formation of the World Cube Association in 2004.<ref name="harris" /> Annual sales of Rubik branded cubes were said to have reached 15&nbsp;million worldwide in 2008.<ref name="quenqua">{{Cite news |last=Quenqua |first=Douglas |date=6 August 2012 |title=Rubik's Cube Twists Back into Limelight |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/science/rubiks-cube-enjoys-another-turn-in-the-spotlight.html}}</ref> Part of the new appeal was ascribed to the advent of Internet video sites, such as YouTube, which allowed fans to share their solving strategies.<ref name="quenqua" /> Following the expiration of Rubik's patent in 2000, other brands of cubes appeared, especially from Chinese companies.<ref name="hookway">{{Cite news |last=Hookway |first=James |date=14 December 2011 |title=One Cube, Many Knockoffs, Quintillions of Possibilities |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204319004577088513615125328}}</ref> Many of these Chinese branded cubes have been engineered for speed and are favoured by speedcubers.<ref name="hookway" /> On 27 October 2020, [[Spin Master]] said it will pay $50 million to buy the Rubik's Cube brand.<ref name="Evans" />

==Imitations==
Taking advantage of an initial shortage of cubes, many imitations and variations appeared, many of which may have violated one or more patents. In 2000, the patents expired, and since then, many Chinese companies have produced copies, modifications, and improvements upon the Rubik and [[V-Cube]] designs.<ref name="hookway" />

===Patent history===
Nichols assigned his patent to his employer Moleculon Research Corp., which sued Ideal in 1982. In 1984, Ideal lost the patent infringement suit and appealed. In 1986, the appeals court affirmed the judgment that Rubik's 2×2×2 Pocket Cube infringed Nichols's patent, but overturned the judgment on Rubik's 3×3×3 Cube.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Moleculon Research Corporation v. CBS, Inc |url=http://digital-law-online.info/cases/229PQ805.htm |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Digital-law-online.info}}</ref>

Even while Rubik's patent application was being processed, Terutoshi Ishigi, a self-taught engineer and ironworks owner near Tokyo, filed for a Japanese patent for a nearly identical mechanism, which was granted in 1976 (Japanese patent publication JP55-008192). Until 1999, when an amended [[Japanese patent law]] was enforced, Japan's patent office granted Japanese patents for non-disclosed technology within Japan without requiring worldwide [[Novelty (patent)|novelty]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act on International Applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (Act No. 30 of April 26, 1978, as amended by Act No. 220 of 1999), Japan, WIPO Lex |url=https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/2657 |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.wipo.int}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Major Amendments to the Japanese Patent Law (since 1985) |url=http://www.patents.jp/Archive/20030210-02.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216125521/http://www.patents.jp/Archive/20030210-02.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2012 |access-date=20 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=An International Guide to Patent Case Management for Judges |url=https://www.wipo.int/patent-judicial-guide/en/full-guide/japan |access-date=2025-05-23 |website=www.wipo.int |language=en}}</ref> Hence, Ishigi's patent is generally accepted as an independent reinvention at that time.<ref name="hofstadter">{{Cite book |last=Hofstadter |first=Douglas R. |url=https://archive.org/details/metamagicalthema0000hofs |title=Metamagical Themas: Questing for the Essence of Mind and Pattern |publisher=Basic Books |year=1985 |isbn=0-465-04566-9 |location=New York |quote=Hofstadter gives the name as 'Ishige'. |author-link=Douglas Hofstadter |url-access=registration}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Longridge |first=Mark |year=2004 |title=Rubik's Cube Chronology |url=http://cubeman.org/cchrono.txt}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2012 |title=The History of Rubik's Cube – Erno Rubik |url=http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa040497.htm |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Inventors.about.com |archive-date=23 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523015041/http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa040497.htm/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Rubik applied for more patents in 1980, including another Hungarian patent on 28 October. In the United States, Rubik was granted {{US patent|4378116}} on 29 March 1983 for the Cube. This patent expired in 2000.

===Trademarks===
Rubik's Brand Ltd. also holds the registered trademarks for the word "Rubik" and "Rubik's" and for the 2D and 3D visualisations of the puzzle. The trademarks were upheld by a ruling of the General Court of the European Union on 25 November 2014 in a successful defence against a German toy manufacturer seeking to invalidate them. However, European toy manufacturers are allowed to create differently shaped puzzles that have a similar rotating or twisting functionality of component parts such as for example [[Skewb]], [[Pyraminx]] or [[Impossiball]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bodoni |date=25 November 2014 |title=Rubik's Cube Wins Trademark Toy Story at EU Court |publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-11-25/rubik-s-cube-wins-trademark-toy-story-at-eu-court.html |access-date=13 December 2014}}</ref>

On 10 November 2016, Rubik's Cube lost a ten-year battle over a key trademark issue.  The [[European Union]]'s highest court, the [[European Court of Justice|Court of Justice]], ruled that the puzzle's shape was not sufficient to grant it trademark protection.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Smithers |first=Rebecca |date=10 November 2016 |title=Rubik's Cube puzzled after losing EU trademark battle |work=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/nov/10/rubiks-cube-puzzled-losing-eu-trademark-battle |access-date=8 December 2016}}</ref>

==Mechanics==
{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}
[[File:Komponen Rubik Kiub Yang Telah Dilabel.jpg|thumb|Rubik's cube components with label]]
[[File:Scrumbled Rubik's Cube.jpg|thumb|Rubik's Cube in scrambled state]]

A standard Rubik's Cube measures {{Convert|5.6|cm|frac=4}} on each side.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bandelow |first=C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=93bSBwAAQBAJ |title=Inside Rubik's Cube and Beyond |date=6 December 2012 |publisher=Springer Science & Business Media |isbn=978-1-4684-7779-5 |page=2 |language=en}}</ref> The puzzle consists of 26 unique miniature cubes, also known as "cubies" or "cubelets". Each of these includes a concealed inward extension that interlocks with the other cubes while permitting them to move to different locations. However, the centre cube of each of the six faces is merely a single square façade; all six are affixed to the core mechanism. These provide structure for the other pieces to fit into and rotate around. Hence, there are 21 pieces: a single core piece consisting of three intersecting axes holding the six centre squares in place but letting them rotate, and 20 smaller plastic pieces that fit into it to form the assembled puzzle.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Zeng |first1=Da-Xing |last2=Li |first2=Ming |last3=Wang |first3=Juan-Juan |last4=Hou |first4=Yu-Lei |last5=Lu |first5=Wen-Juan |last6=Huang |first6=Zhen |date=27 August 2018 |title=Overview of Rubik's Cube and Reflections on Its Application in Mechanism |journal=Chinese Journal of Mechanical Engineering |volume=31 |issue=1 |pages=77 |bibcode=2018ChJME..31...77Z |doi=10.1186/s10033-018-0269-7 |issn=2192-8258 |doi-access=free}}</ref>

Each of the six centre pieces pivots on a fastener held by the centre piece, a "3D cross". A spring between each fastener and its corresponding piece tensions the piece inward, so that collectively, the whole assembly remains compact but can still be easily manipulated. The older versions of the official Cube used a screw that can be tightened or loosened to change the "feel" of the Cube. Newer official Rubik's brand cubes have rivets instead of screws and cannot be adjusted. Inexpensive clones do not have screws or springs, all they have is a plastic clip to keep the centre piece in place and freely rotate.

The Cube can be taken apart without much difficulty, typically by rotating the top layer by 45° and then prying one of its edge cubes away from the other two layers. Consequently, it is a simple process to "solve" a Cube by taking it apart and reassembling it in a solved state.

There are six central pieces that show one coloured face, twelve edge pieces that show two coloured faces, and eight corner pieces that show three coloured faces. Each piece shows a unique colour combination, but not all combinations are present (for example, if red and orange are on opposite sides of the solved Cube, there is no edge piece with both red and orange sides). The location of these cubes relative to one another can be altered by twisting an outer third of the Cube by increments of 90 degrees, but the location of the coloured sides relative to one another in the completed state of the puzzle cannot be altered; it is fixed by the relative positions of the centre squares. However, Cubes with alternative colour arrangements also exist; for example, with the yellow face opposite the green, the blue face opposite the white, and red and orange remaining opposite each other.

[[Douglas Hofstadter]], in the July 1982 issue of ''Scientific American'', pointed out that Cubes could be coloured in such a way as to emphasise the corners or edges, rather than the faces as the standard colouring does; but neither of these alternative colourings has ever become popular.<ref name="hofstadter" />

==Mathematics==
The puzzle was originally advertised as having "over 3,000,000,000 (three [[1000000000 (number)|billion]]) combinations but only one solution".<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTkhA3RO5fU |title=Rubik's Cube Commercial 1981 |date=23 October 2008 |access-date=10 October 2017 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/jTkhA3RO5fU |archive-date=11 December 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>  Depending on how combinations are counted, the actual number is significantly higher.

===Permutations===
{{main|Rubik's Cube group}}

[[File:Rubik's cube colors.svg|thumb|The current colour scheme of a Rubik's Cube – yellow opposes white, blue opposes green, orange opposes red, and white, green, and red are positioned in anti-clockwise order around a corner.]]
The original (3×3×3) Rubik's Cube has eight corners and twelve edges. There are [[factorial|8!]] (40,320) ways to arrange the corner cubes. Each corner has three possible orientations, although only seven (of eight) can be oriented independently; the orientation of the eighth (final) corner depends on the preceding seven, giving 3<sup>7</sup> (2,187) possibilities. There are 12!/2 (239,500,800) ways to arrange the edges, restricted from 12! because edges must be in an [[even permutation]] exactly when the corners are. (When arrangements of centres are also permitted, as described below, the rule is that the combined arrangement of corners, edges, and centres must be an even permutation.) Eleven edges can be flipped independently, with the flip of the twelfth depending on the preceding ones, giving 2<sup>11</sup> (2,048) possibilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schönert |first=Martin |title=Analyzing Rubik's Cube with GAP |url=https://www.gap-system.org/Doc/Examples/rubik.html |access-date=30 December 2022 |website=gap-system.org |archive-date=28 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928194734/http://www.gap-system.org/Doc/Examples/rubik.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>  Thus the total number of arrangements of a Rubik's Cube is
<math display=block> {8! \times 3^7 \times \frac{12!}{2} \times 2^{11}} = 43{,}252{,}003{,}274{,}489{,}856{,}000,</math>
which is about 43 [[quintillion]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 17, 2009 |title=The Mathematics of the Rubik's Cube |url=https://web.mit.edu/sp.268/www/rubik.pdf |website=Massachusetts Institute of Technology}}</ref><!-- 12!8!*2^11*3^7/2 expanded: 12! = 479,001,600, 8! = 40,320, 2^11 = 2,048, 3^7 = 2,187, 479,001,600 * 40,320 * 2,048 * 2,187 / 2 = 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 (approximately 4.33 x 10^19) -->  To put this into perspective, if one had one standard-sized Rubik's Cube for each [[permutation]], one could cover the Earth's surface 275 times, or stack them in a tower 261 [[light-year]]s high.

The preceding figure is limited to permutations that can be reached solely by turning the sides of the cube. If one considers permutations reached through disassembly of the cube, the number becomes twelve times larger:

:<math> {8! \times 3^8 \times 12! \times 2^{12}} = 519{,}024{,}039{,}293{,}878{,}272{,}000</math>

which is approximately 519&nbsp;quintillion<ref name="Vaughen">{{Cite web |author=Scott Vaughen |title=Counting the Permutations of the Rubik's Cube |url=http://faculty.mc3.edu/cvaughen/rubikscube/cube_counting.ppt |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719235049/http://faculty.mc3.edu/cvaughen/rubikscube/cube_counting.ppt |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=19 January 2011 |website=Montgomery County Community College |language=en}}</ref> possible arrangements of the pieces that make up the cube, but only one-twelfth of these are actually solvable. This is because there is no sequence of moves that will swap a single pair of pieces or rotate a single corner or edge cube. Thus, there are 12 possible sets of reachable configurations, sometimes called "universes" or "[[orbit (group theory)|orbits]]", into which the cube can be placed by dismantling and reassembling it.

The preceding numbers assume the centre faces are in a fixed position.  If one considers turning the whole cube to be a different permutation, then each of the preceding numbers should be multiplied by 24.  A chosen colour can be on one of six sides, and then one of the adjacent colours can be in one of four positions; this determines the positions of all remaining colours.

===Centre faces===
The original Rubik's Cube had no orientation markings on the centre faces (although some carried the "Rubik's Cube" mark on the centre square of the white face), and therefore solving it does not require any attention to orienting those faces correctly. However, with marker pens, one could, for example, mark the central squares of an unscrambled Cube with four coloured marks on each edge, each corresponding to the colour of the adjacent face; a cube marked in this way is referred to as a "supercube". Some Cubes have also been produced commercially with markings on all of the squares, such as the [[Lo Shu Square|Lo Shu]] [[magic square]] or [[playing card]] [[suit (cards)|suits]]. Cubes have also been produced where the nine stickers on a face are used to make a single larger picture, and centre orientation matters on these as well. Thus one can nominally solve a Cube yet have the markings on the centres rotated; it then becomes an additional test to solve the centres as well.

Marking Rubik's Cube's centres increases its difficulty, because this expands the set of distinguishable possible configurations. There are 4<sup>6</sup>/2 (2,048) ways to orient the centres since an even permutation of the corners implies an even number of quarter turns of centres as well. In particular, when the Cube is unscrambled apart from the orientations of the central squares, there will always be an even number of centre squares requiring a quarter turn. Thus orientations of centres increases the total number of possible Cube permutations from 43,252,003,274,489,856,000 (4.3×10<sup>19</sup>) to 88,580,102,706,155,225,088,000 (8.9×10<sup>22</sup>).<ref>{{cite journal
 | last = Hofstadter | first = Douglas R. | author-link = Douglas Hofstadter
 | date = March 1981
 | issue = 3
 | journal = [[Scientific American]]
 | jstor = 24964321
 | pages = 20–39
 | title = Metamagical themas: The Magic Cube's cubies are twiddled by cubists and solved by cubemeisters
 | volume = 244| doi = 10.1038/scientificamerican0381-20 }}; see p. 22</ref>

When turning a cube over is considered to be a change in permutation then we must also count arrangements of the centre faces. Nominally there are 6! ways to arrange the six centre faces of the cube, but only 24 of these are achievable without disassembly of the cube. When the orientations of centres are also counted, as above, this increases the total number of possible Cube permutations from 88,580,102,706,155,225,088,000 (8.9×10<sup>22</sup>) to 2,125,922,464,947,725,402,112,000 (2.1×10<sup>24</sup>).

===Algorithms===
In Rubik's cubers' parlance, a memorised sequence of moves that have a desired effect on the cube is called an "algorithm". This terminology is derived from the mathematical use of ''[[algorithm]]'', meaning a list of well-defined instructions for performing a task from a given initial state, through well-defined successive states, to a desired end-state. Each method of solving the Cube employs its own set of algorithms, together with descriptions of what effect the algorithm has, and when it can be used to bring the cube closer to being solved.

Many algorithms are designed to transform only a small part of the cube without interfering with other parts that have already been solved so that they can be applied repeatedly to different parts of the cube until the whole is solved. For example, there are well-known algorithms for cycling three corners without changing the rest of the puzzle or flipping the orientation of a pair of edges while leaving the others intact.

Some algorithms do have a certain desired effect on the cube (for example, swapping two corners) but may also have the side-effect of changing other parts of the cube (such as permuting some edges). Such algorithms are often simpler than the ones without side effects and are employed early on in the solution when most of the puzzle has not yet been solved and the side effects are not important. Towards the end of the solution, the more specific (and usually more complicated) algorithms are used instead.

===Relevance and application of mathematical group theory===
Rubik's Cube lends itself to the application of [[Rubik's Cube group|mathematical group theory]], which has been helpful for deducing certain algorithms – in particular, those which have a ''[[commutator]]'' structure, namely ''XYX''<sup>−1</sup>''Y''<sup>−1</sup> (where ''X'' and ''Y'' are specific moves or move-sequences and ''X''<sup>−1</sup> and ''Y''<sup>−1</sup> are their respective inverses), or a ''[[Conjugation (group theory)|conjugate]]'' structure, namely ''XYX''<sup>−1</sup>, often referred to by speedcubers colloquially as a "setup move".<ref name="Singmaster" /> In addition, the fact that there are well-defined [[subgroup]]s within the Rubik's Cube group enables the puzzle to be learned and mastered by moving up through various self-contained "levels of difficulty". For example, one such "level" could involve solving cubes that have been scrambled using only 180-degree turns. These subgroups are the principle underlying the computer cubing methods by [[Morwen Thistlethwaite#Thistlethwaite's algorithm|Thistlethwaite]] and [[Optimal solutions for Rubik's Cube#Kociemba's algorithm|Kociemba]], which solve the cube by further reducing it to another subgroup.

===Unitary representation===
The Rubik's group can be endowed with a [[unitary representation]]: such a description allows the Rubik's Cube to be mapped into a quantum system of few particles, where the rotations of its faces are implemented by unitary operators. The rotations of the faces act as generators of the [[Lie group]].<ref>{{cite journal |author1=S. Corli |author2=L. Moro |author3=D.E. Galli |author4=E. Prati | title=Solving Rubik's Cube via Quantum Mechanics and Deep Reinforcement Learning| journal=[[Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical]]| year=2021| volume=54 | issue=5 | pages=425302 |arxiv=2109.07199|doi=10.1088/1751-8121/ac2596|bibcode=2021JPhA...54P5302C |s2cid=237513509  |issn=1751-8113 }}</ref>

==Solutions==
{{wikibooks|How to Solve the Rubik's Cube}}
===Singmaster notation===
Many 3×3×3 Rubik's Cube enthusiasts use a notation developed by [[David Singmaster]] to denote a sequence of moves, referred to as "Singmaster notation" or simple "Cube notation".<ref name="advgroup">{{Cite book |last=Joyner |first=David |url=https://archive.org/details/adventuresingrou0000joyn/page/7 |title=Adventures in group theory: Rubik's Cube, Merlin's machine, and Other Mathematical Toys |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-8018-6947-1 |location=Baltimore |page=[https://archive.org/details/adventuresingrou0000joyn/page/7 7]}}</ref> Its relative nature allows algorithms to be written in such a way that they can be applied regardless of which side is designated the top or how the colours are organised on a particular cube.
* ''F'' (Front): the side currently facing the solver
* ''B'' (Back): the side opposite the front
* ''U'' (Up): the side above or on top of the front side
* ''D'' (Down): the side opposite the top, underneath the Cube
* ''L'' (Left): the side directly to the left of the front
* ''R'' (Right): the side directly to the right of the front
* ''f'' (Front two layers): the side facing the solver and the corresponding middle layer
* ''b'' (Back two layers): the side opposite the front and the corresponding middle layer
* ''u'' (Up two layers): the top side and the corresponding middle layer
* ''d'' (Down two layers): the bottom layer and the corresponding middle layer
* ''l'' (Left two layers): the side to the left of the front and the corresponding middle layer
* ''r'' (Right two layers): the side to the right of the front and the corresponding middle layer
* ''x'' (rotate): rotate the entire Cube on ''R''
* ''y'' (rotate): rotate the entire Cube on ''U''
* ''z'' (rotate): rotate the entire Cube on ''F''

When a [[Prime (symbol)|prime symbol]] (&nbsp;′&nbsp;) follows a letter, it indicates an anticlockwise face turn; while a letter without a prime symbol denotes a clockwise turn. These directions are as one is looking at the specified face.  A letter followed by a&nbsp;2 (occasionally a superscript&nbsp;<sup>2</sup>) denotes two turns, or a 180-degree turn. For example, ''R'' means to turn the right side clockwise, but ''R′'' means to turn the right side anticlockwise. The letters ''x'', ''y'', and ''z'' are used to indicate that the entire Cube should be turned about one of its axes, corresponding to R, U, and F turns respectively. When ''x'', ''y'', or ''z'' is primed, it is an indication that the cube must be rotated in the opposite direction. When ''x'', ''y'', or ''z'' is squared, the cube must be rotated 180 degrees. <!-- Which axis (x, y, z) is which? user Nikevich -->

One of the most common deviations from Singmaster notation, and in fact the current official standard, is to use "w", for "wide", instead of lowercase letters to represent moves of two layers; thus, a move of ''Rw'' is equivalent to one of ''r''.<ref name="wcarules">{{Cite web |title=World Cube Association Competition Regulations |url=http://worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/ |access-date=5 May 2012 |publisher=World Cube Association}}</ref>

For methods using middle-layer turns (particularly corners-first methods), there is a generally accepted "MES" extension to the notation where letters ''M'', ''E'', and ''S'' denote middle layer turns. It was used e.g. in Marc Waterman's Algorithm.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Treep |first1=Anneke |title=Marc Waterman's Algorithm, Part 2 |last2=Waterman |first2=Marc |publisher=Nederlandse Kubus Club |year=1987 |series=Cubism For Fun 15 |page=10}}</ref>
* ''M'' (Middle): the layer between L and R, turn direction as L (top-down)
* ''E'' (Equator): the layer between U and D, turn direction as D (left-right)
* ''S'' (Standing): the layer between F and B, turn direction as F

The 4×4×4 and larger cubes use an extended notation to refer to the additional middle layers. Generally speaking, uppercase letters (''F B U D L R'') refer to the outermost portions of the cube (called faces). Lowercase letters (''f b u d l r'') refer to the inner portions of the cube (called slices). An asterisk (L*), a number in front of it (2L), or two layers in parentheses (Ll), means to turn the two layers at the same time (both the inner and the outer left faces) For example: (''Rr'')<nowiki>'</nowiki>&nbsp;''l''2&nbsp;''f''<nowiki>'</nowiki> means to turn the two rightmost layers anticlockwise, then the left inner layer twice, and then the inner front layer anticlockwise. By extension, for cubes of 6×6×6 and larger, moves of three layers are notated by the number 3, for example, 3L.

An alternative notation, Wolstenholme notation,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rubik's Cube - Solution and Wolstenholme Notation |url=http://www.topaccolades.com/notation/rubikscube.htm |access-date=19 February 2022 |website=topaccolades.com}}</ref> is designed to make memorising sequences of moves easier for novices.  This notation uses the same letters for faces except it replaces U with T (top), so that all are consonants.  The key difference is the use of the vowels O, A, and I for cl'''o'''ckwise, '''a'''nticlockwise, and tw'''i'''ce (180-degree) turns, which results in word-like sequences such as LOTA RATO LATA ROTI (equivalent to LU′ R′ U L′ U′ R U2 in Singmaster notation). The addition of a C implies rotation of the entire cube, so ROC is the clockwise rotation of the cube around its right face. Middle layer moves are denoted by adding an M to the corresponding face move, so RIM means a 180-degree turn of the middle layer adjacent to the R face.

Another notation appeared in the 1981 book ''[[The Simple Solution to Rubik's Cube]]''. Singmaster notation was not widely known at the time of publication. The faces were named Top (T), Bottom (B), Left (L), Right (R), Front (F), and Posterior (P), with + for clockwise, – for anticlockwise, and 2 for 180-degree turns.

Another notation appeared in the 1982 "The Ideal Solution" book for Rubik's Revenge. Horizontal planes were noted as tables, with table 1 or T1 starting at the top. Vertical front to back planes were noted as books, with book 1 or B1 starting from the left. Vertical left to right planes were noted as windows, with window 1 or W1 starting at the front. Using the front face as a reference view, table moves were left or right, book moves were up or down, and window moves were clockwise or anticlockwise.

===Period of move sequences===
The repetition of any given move sequence on a cube which is initially in solved state will eventually return the cube back to its solved state: the smallest number of iterations required is the period of the sequence. For example, the 180-degree turn of any side has period 2 (e.g. {{nowrap|{U<sup>2</sup>}<sup>2</sup>}}); the 90-degree turn of any side has period 4 (e.g. {{nowrap|{R}<sup>4</sup>}}). The maximum period for a move sequence is 1260:<ref name="advgroup" /> for example, allowing for full rotations, {{nowrap|{F x}<sup>1260</sup>}} or {{nowrap|{R y}<sup>1260</sup>}} or {{nowrap|{U z}<sup>1260</sup>}}; not allowing for rotations, {{nowrap|{D R' U<sup>2</sup> M}<sup>1260</sup>}}, or {{nowrap|{B E L' F<sup>2</sup>}<sup>1260</sup>}}, or {{nowrap|{S' U' B D<sup>2</sup>}<sup>1260</sup>}}; only allowing for clockwise quarter turns, {{nowrap|{U R S U L}<sup>1260</sup>}}, or {{nowrap|{F L E B L}<sup>1260</sup>}}, or {{nowrap|{R U R D S}<sup>1260</sup>}}; only allowing for lateral clockwise quarter turns, {{nowrap|{F B L F B R F U}<sup>1260</sup>}}, or {{nowrap|{U D R U D L U F}<sup>1260</sup>}}, or {{nowrap|{R L D R L U R F}<sup>1260</sup>}}.

===Optimal solutions===
{{Main|Optimal solutions for Rubik's Cube}}

Although there are a significant number of possible permutations for Rubik's Cube, a number of solutions have been developed which allow solving the cube in well under 100 moves.

Many general solutions for the Cube have been discovered independently. [[David Singmaster]] first published his solution in the book ''Notes on Rubik's "Magic Cube"'' in 1981.<ref name="Singmaster">{{Cite book |last=Singmaster |first=David |title=Notes on Rubik's Magic Cube |publisher=Penguin Books |year=1981 |isbn=0-907395-00-7 |location=Harmondsworth, Eng}}</ref> This solution involves solving the Cube layer by layer, in which one layer (designated the top) is solved first, followed by the middle layer, and then the final and bottom layer. After sufficient practice, solving the Cube layer by layer can be done in under one minute. Other general solutions include "corners first" methods or combinations of several other methods. In 1982, David Singmaster and Alexander Frey hypothesised that the number of moves needed to solve the Cube, given an ideal algorithm, might be in "the low twenties".<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Frey |first1=Alexander H. Jr. |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofcubikm0000frey |title=Handbook of Cubik Math |last2=Singmaster, David |publisher=Enslow Publishers |year=1982 |isbn=0-89490-058-7 |location=Hillside, N.J. |url-access=registration}}</ref> In 2007, Daniel Kunkle and Gene Cooperman used computer search methods to demonstrate that any 3×3×3 Rubik's Cube configuration can be solved in 26 moves or fewer.<ref name="D.Kunkle">{{Cite conference |last1=Kunkle |first1=D. |last2=Cooperman, C. |year=2007 |title=Twenty-Six Moves Suffice for Rubik's Cube |url=http://www.ccs.neu.edu/home/gene/papers/rubik.pdf |publisher=ACM Press |book-title=Proceedings of the International Symposium on Symbolic and Algebraic Computation (ISSAC '07)}}</ref><ref>{{Cite conference |year=2008 |title=Rubik's cube proof cut to 25 moves |url=http://arxivblog.com/?p=332}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Julie J. Rehmeyer |title=Cracking the Cube |url=http://blog.sciencenews.org/mathtrek/2007/08/cracking_the_cube.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011211147/http://blog.sciencenews.org/mathtrek/2007/08/cracking_the_cube.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date=11 October 2007 |access-date=9 August 2007 |publisher=MathTrek}}
</ref>
In 2008, Tomas Rokicki lowered that number to 22 moves,<ref>{{Cite arXiv |eprint=0803.3435 |class=cs.SC |author=Tom Rokicki |title=Twenty-Five Moves Suffice for Rubik's Cube |year=2008}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rubik's Cube Algorithm Cut Again, Down to 23 Moves | date=5 June 2008 |url=http://science.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/06/05/2054249 |access-date=5 June 2008 |publisher=[Slashdot]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rokicki |first=Tom |title=Twenty-Two Moves Suffice |url=http://cubezzz.duckdns.org/drupal?q=node/view/121 |access-date=20 August 2008}}</ref> and in July 2010, a team of researchers including Rokicki, working with computers provided by [[Google]], proved that the so-called "[[God's algorithm|God's number]]" for Rubik's Cube is 20.<ref name="BBC">{{Cite news |last=Fildes |first=Jonathan |date=11 August 2010 |title=Rubik's Cube quest for speedy solution comes to an end |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-10929159}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Flatley |first=Joseph F. |date=9 August 2010 |title=Rubik's Cube solved in twenty moves, 35 years of CPU time |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/09/rubiks-cube-solved-in-twenty-moves-35-years-of-cpu-time/ |access-date=10 August 2010 |website=[[Engadget]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Davidson |first1=Morley |last2=Dethridge |first2=John |last3=Kociemba |first3=Herbert |last4=Rokicki |first4=Tomas |title=God's Number is 20 |url=http://www.cube20.org/ |access-date=10 August 2010 |publisher=cube20.org}}</ref> This means that all initial configurations can be solved in 20 moves or less, and some (in fact millions) require 20.<ref name=BBC/> More generally, it has been shown that an ''n''×''n''×''n'' Rubik's Cube can be solved optimally in [[Big O notation|Θ(''n''<sup>2</sup>&nbsp;/&nbsp;log(''n''))]] moves.<ref>{{Cite arXiv |eprint=1106.5736v1 |class=cs.DS |first1=Erik D. |last1=Demaine |first2=Martin L. |last2=Demaine |title=Algorithms for Solving Rubik's Cubes |last3=Eisenstat |first3=Sarah |last4=Lubiw |first4=Anna |author4-link=Anna Lubiw |last5=Winslow |first5=Andrew |year=2011}}</ref>

===Speedcubing methods===
A solution commonly used by speedcubers was developed by [[Jessica Fridrich]]. This method is called [[CFOP method|CFOP]] standing for "Cross, F2L, OLL, PLL".  It is similar to the [[Layer by Layer|layer-by-layer]] method but employs the use of a large number of algorithms, especially for orienting and permuting the last layer. The cross is solved first, followed by first layer corners and second layer edges simultaneously, with each corner paired up with a second-layer edge piece, thus completing the first two layers (F2L). This is then followed by [[Orientation (geometry)|orienting]] the last layer, then [[permutation|permuting]] the last layer (OLL and PLL respectively). There are a total of 120 algorithms for Fridrich's method, however they are not all required to use the [[CFOP method|CFOP]] method. Most dedicated cubers will learn as many of these algorithms as possible, and most advanced cubers know all of them. If a cuber knows every algorithm for OLL they may be described as knowing full OLL. It is the same for PLL and F2L.

A now well-known method was developed by [[Lars Petrus]]. In this method, a 2×2×2 section is solved first, followed by a 2×2×3, and then the incorrect edges are solved using a three-move algorithm, which eliminates the need for a possible 32-move algorithm later. The principle behind this is that in layer-by-layer, one must constantly break and fix the completed layer(s); the 2×2×2 and 2×2×3 sections allow three or two layers (respectively) to be turned without ruining progress. One of the advantages of this method is that it tends to give solutions in fewer moves. For this reason, the method is also popular for fewest move competitions.<ref name="larspatrus">{{Cite web |title=Rubik's Cube Solution - Petrus Method |url=https://lar5.com/cube/ |access-date=8 November 2018 |publisher=lar5.com}}</ref>

The Roux Method, developed by [[Gilles Roux]], is similar to the Petrus method in that it relies on block building rather than layers, but derives from corners-first methods. In Roux, a 3×2×1 block is solved, followed by another 3×2×1 on the opposite side. Next, the corners of the top layer are solved. The cube can then be solved using only moves of the U layer and M slice.<ref name="rouxmeth">{{Cite web |title=Introduction |url=http://grrroux.free.fr/method/Intro.html |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Grrroux.free.fr}}</ref>

===Beginners' methods===
Most beginner solution methods involve solving the cube [[Layer by Layer|one layer at a time]] ("layer-by-layer" method or "beginner's method"), using algorithms that preserve what has already been solved. The easiest layer by layer methods require only 3–8 algorithms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How to solve a Rubik's Cube |url=https://how-to-solve-a-rubix-cube.com/ |access-date=28 June 2016 |publisher=how-to-solve-a-rubix-cube.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Beginner Solution to the Rubik's Cube (available in multiple languages) |url=http://ozcubegirl.com/rubikscubesolution.html |access-date=17 July 2017 |publisher=Jasmine Lee}}</ref>

{{anchor|patrick_bossert}}In 1981, thirteen-year-old Patrick Bossert developed a solution for solving the cube, along with a graphical notation, designed to be easily understood by novices.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Evans |first=Rob |date=24 September 1981 |title=Restore your cube |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_0beD5LVNugC&pg=PA802 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818162232/https://books.google.com/books?id=_0beD5LVNugC&pg=PA802 |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 August 2020 |journal=New Scientist |page=802 }}</ref> It was subsequently published as ''You Can Do The Cube'' and became a best-seller.<ref>{{Cite journal |year=1982 |title=Rubik's Cube |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yvomAQAAIAAJ&q=%22you+can+do+the+cube%22 |journal=Newsweek |volume=99 |page=16}}</ref>

In 1997, Denny Dedmore published a solution described using diagrammatic icons representing the moves to be made, instead of the usual notation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Website with solutions created by Denny Dedmore |url=http://www.helm.lu/cube/solutions/rubikscube/ |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Helm.lu}}</ref>

Philip Marshall's ''The Ultimate Solution to Rubik's Cube'' takes a different approach, averaging only 65 twists yet requiring the memorisation of only two algorithms. The cross is solved first, followed by the remaining edges (using the Edge Piece Series FR'F'R), then five corners (using the Corner Piece Series URU'L'UR'U'L, which is the same as the typical last layer corner permutation algorithm), and finally the last three corners.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marshall |first=Philip |date=2005 |title=The Ultimate Solution to Rubik's Cube |url=http://helm.lu/cube/MarshallPhilipp/ |access-date=30 December 2022 |website=helm.lu}}</ref>
<!-- *A solution developed by Ryan Heise teaches a set of underlying principles that can be used to solve the Cube in fewer than 40 moves.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}} -->

===Rubik's Cube solver programs===
The fastest move optimal online Rubik's Cube solver program uses [[Optimal solutions for Rubik's Cube#Feather's_algorithm|Michael Feather's two-phase algorithm]]. The fastest suboptimal online Rubik's Cube solver which can typically determine a solution of 20 moves or fewer uses an optimized version of [[Optimal solutions for Rubik's Cube#Kociemba's_algorithm|Herbert Kociemba's two-phase algorithm]]. The user has to set the colour configuration of the scrambled cube, and the program returns the steps required to solve it in the half-turn metric.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rubik's Cube solver |url=https://mfeather1.github.io/m2p/solve.html |access-date=8 June 2025}}</ref>

==Competitions and records==
===Speedcubing competitions===
{{Main|Speedcubing|World Cube Association}}
[[File:Erik Akkersdijk is solving a 3×3×3 Rubik's Cube in 10.50s.ogv|thumb|Speedsolve at a speedcubing competition]]

Speedcubing (or speedsolving) is the practice of trying to solve a Rubik's Cube in the shortest time possible. There are a number of speedcubing competitions that take place around the world.

A speedcubing championship organised by [[Guinness World Records]] was held in [[Munich]] on 13 March 1981.<ref name="gwr1983">{{Cite book |title=Guinness Book of Records |publisher=Guinness Publishing |year=1983 |isbn=9780851122519 |editor-last=McWhirter |editor-first=Norris |page=85 |chapter=Cubism |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WqUxAQAAIAAJ&q=%22rubik%22}}</ref> The contest used standardised scrambling and fixed inspection times, and the winners were Ronald Brinkmann and Jury Fröschl with times of 38.0 seconds.<ref name="gwr1983" /> The first world championship was the [[1982 World Rubik's Cube Championship]] held in [[Budapest]] on 5 June 1982, which was won by [[Minh Thai]], a Vietnamese student from Los Angeles, with a time of 22.95 seconds.<ref name="upi0582">{{Cite news |last=Hanauer |first=Joan |date=26 May 1982 |title=Cube Contest |work=United Press International |url=http://www.upi.com/Archives/1982/05/26/CUBE-CONTEST/9176391233600/}}</ref>

Since 2003, the winner of a competition has been determined by taking a [[Truncated mean|trimmed average]] of five solves, removing the slowest and fastest. The single best time is usually also recorded.
The World Cube Association maintains a history of world records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Cube Association Official Results |url=http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/regions.php?regionId=&eventId=333&years=&history=History |access-date=16 February 2008 |publisher=World Cube Association |archive-date=7 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607053724/https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/regions.php?regionId=&eventId=333&years=&history=History |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2004, the WCA introduced a requirement to use a special timing device known as a Stackmat Timer for any solve to be officially counted.

In addition to the main 3x3x3 event, the WCA also holds events where the cube is solved in different ways:<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 April 2008 |title=Competition Regulations, Article 9: Events |url=http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#events |access-date=16 April 2008 |publisher=World Cube Association}}</ref>
* Blindfolded solving<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rubik's 3x3x3 Cube: Blindfolded records |url=http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/events.php?eventId=333bf&regionId=&years=&show=100%2BPersons&single=Single |access-date=20 June 2012 |website=WorldCubeAssociation.org |archive-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210223215/https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/events.php?eventId=333bf&regionId=&years=&show=100%2BPersons&single=Single |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Multiple blindfolded solving, or "multi-blind", in which the contestant solves any number of cubes blindfolded in a row<ref>{{Cite web |title=WCA Regulations – World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/regulations/#9b3 |access-date=5 April 2018 |website=worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>
* Solving the cube using a single hand, or "one-handed (OH)" solving<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rubik's 3x3x3 Cube: One-handed |url=http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/events.php?eventId=333oh&regionId=&years=&show=100%2BPersons&single=Single |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Worldcubeassociation.org |archive-date=10 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210204142/https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/events.php?eventId=333oh&regionId=&years=&show=100%2BPersons&single=Single |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* Solving the cube in the fewest possible moves, also known as Fewest Moves Challenge (FMC)<ref name="fmc">{{Cite web |title=Rankings &#124; World Cube Association |url=https://worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333fm/single |website=worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>

In blindfolded solving, the contestant first studies the scrambled cube (i.e., looking at it normally with no blindfold), and is then blindfolded before beginning to turn the cube's faces. Their recorded time for this event includes both the time spent memorizing the cube and the time spent solving it.

In multiple blindfolded solving, all of the cubes are memorised, and then all of the cubes are solved once blindfolded; thus, the main challenge is memorising many&nbsp;– often ten or more&nbsp;– separate cubes. The event is scored not by time but by the number of points achieved after the one-hour time limit has elapsed. The number of points achieved is equal to the number of cubes solved correctly, minus the number of cubes unsolved after the end of the attempt, where a greater number of points is better. If multiple competitors achieve the same number of points, rankings are assessed based on the total time of the attempt, with a shorter time being better.

In fewest moves solving, the contestant is given a set of moves that scramble the cube (a "scramble"), and they have one hour to write down the shortest solution to the cube they can find.

===Records===
====Competition records====
* Single time: The world record time for solving a 3×3×3 Rubik's Cube is 3.05 seconds, held by 	Xuanyi Geng (耿暄一) of China, broken on 13 April 2025 at ''Shenyang Spring 2025''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WCA Rankings  |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333/single? |access-date=13 April 2025|website=live.worldcubeassociation.org |language=en}}</ref>
* Average time: The world record average of the middle three of five solve times (which excludes the fastest and slowest) is 3.90 seconds, set by Yiheng Wang (王艺衡) of China on 26 July 2025 at the ''Taizhou Open 2025'' cubing competition in Zhejiang, TaiZhou, China.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lishui Open 2025 {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/competitions/LishuiOpen2025#general-info |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>
* One-handed solving: The world record fastest one-handed solve is 5.66 seconds, set by Dhruva Sai Meruva of Switzerland on 6 October 2024 at ''Swiss Nationals 2024'' in Basel, Switzerland. The world record fastest average of five one-handed solves is 7.72 seconds, set by Luke Garrett of the United States on 9 March 2025 at Chicagoland Newcomers 2025.<ref name="wcaoh">{{Cite web |title=Records {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/records?event_id=333oh |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rankings {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333oh/single |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>
* Blindfold solving: The world record fastest Rubik's Cube solve blindfolded is 12.00 seconds (including memorization), set by [[Tommy Cherry]] of the United States on 11 February 2024 at ''Triton Tricubealon 2024'' in [[San Diego|San Diego, California, United States]]. The world record mean of three for blindfold solving is 14.05 seconds, set by [[Tommy Cherry]] on 28 July 2024 at the ''Rubik's WCA European Championship 2024'' in [[Pamplona]], [[Spain]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rankings {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333bf/single |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>
* Multiple blindfold solving: The world record for multiple Rubik's Cube solving blindfolded is 63 out of 65 cubes in 58 minutes and 23 seconds, set by Graham Siggins of the United States on 18 October 2025 at ''Please Be Quiet Reno 2025''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Rankings {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333mbf/single |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>
* Fewest moves solving: The world record of fewest moves to solve a cube, given one hour to determine one's solution, is 16, which was achieved by Sebastiano Tronto of Italy on 15 June 2019 at ''FMC 2019'', Aeden Bryant of the USA on 23 June 2024 at Ashfield Summer Challenge 2024, and Levi Gibson of the USA on 23 June 2024 at Ashfield Summer Challenge 2024. The world record mean of three for the fewest moves challenge is 19.67, set by Radomił Baran of Poland on March 2025 at 5BLD Masters [[Opole]] 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Cube Association FMC Records |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/records?event_id=333fm&show=mixed |access-date=April 17, 2025 |website=World Cube Association}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rankings {{!}} World Cube Association |url=https://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/rankings/333fm/single |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=www.worldcubeassociation.org}}</ref>

====Other records====
* Non-human solving: The fastest non-human Rubik's Cube solve was performed by Rubik's Contraption, a robot made by Ben Katz and Jared Di Carlo. A YouTube video shows a 0.38-second solving time using a Nucleo with the [[Optimal solutions for Rubik's Cube|min2phase]] algorithm.<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 March 2018 |title=Rubik's robot solves puzzle in 0.38 seconds |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-43331049 |access-date=8 March 2018}}</ref>
* Highest order physical ''n×n×n'' cube solving: Jeremy Smith solved a 21x21x21 in 95 minutes and 55.52 seconds.<ref>{{Citation |title=MoYu 21x21x21 M solve - 1:35:55.52 | date=22 February 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7L59BidsZjg |access-date=12 March 2023}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=List of Unofficial World Records |url=https://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/List_of_Unofficial_World_Records |access-date=12 March 2023 |website=speedsolving.com – Wiki}}</ref>{{self-published inline|date=March 2023}}
* Group solving (12 minutes): The record for most people solving a Rubik's Cube at once in twelve minutes is 134, set on 17 March 2010 by schoolboys from Dr Challoner's Grammar School, Amersham, England, breaking the previous Guinness World Record of 96 people at once.<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 March 2010 |title=Pupils break Rubik's Cube Record |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/threecounties/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8572000/8572975.stm |access-date=20 June 2012}}</ref>
* Group solving (30 minutes): On 21 November 2012, at the [[The O2 Arena (London)|O2 Arena]] in London, 1414 people, mainly students from schools across London, solved Rubik's Cube in under 30 minutes, breaking the previous Guinness World Record of 937. The event was hosted by Depaul UK.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 November 2012 |title=Schools Smash World Record |url=http://www.depauluk.org/newsandresources/schools-smash/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130120065049/http://www.depauluk.org/newsandresources/schools-smash/ |archive-date=20 January 2013 |access-date=21 November 2012 |publisher=Depaul UK}}</ref>
:On 4 November 2012, 3248 people, mainly students of the [[College of Engineering Pune]], successfully solved Rubik's cube in 30 minutes on college ground. The successful attempt is recorded in the [[Limca Book of Records]]. The college will submit the relevant data, witness statements and video of the event to Guinness authorities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2012 |title=CoEP sets another record, over 3,000 solve Rubik's Cube in 30 minutes |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/coep-sets-another-record-over-3000-solve-rubik-s-cube-in-30-minutes/1026891 |access-date=5 November 2012 |website=The Indian Express}}</ref>

==Variations==
<imagemap>
File:Rubik's Cube variants.jpg|thumb|250px|alt=Rubik's Cube Variants|Scrambled variations of Rubik's Cubes. Top row:<br /> [[V-Cube 7]], [[Professor's Cube]], [[V-Cube 6]]. <br />Bottom row:<br /> [[Rubik's Revenge]], original Rubik's Cube, [[Pocket Cube]]. <br /> Clicking on a cube will redirect to the respective page. 
default none [[File:Rubik's Cube variants.jpg]]
poly 964 370 1082 448 1065 545 970 622 865 545 875 445 [[Pocket Cube]]
poly 620 370 844 363 862 536 850 680 628 682 [[#Variations|Rubik's Cube]]
poly 455 280 570 440 580 605 355 705 255 530 220 363 [[Rubik's Revenge]]
poly 540 75 780 90 780 225 760 360 620 365 605 420 560 420 505 340 500 235 [[Professor's Cube]]
poly 890 50 1125 90 1065 420 1040 420 965 365 930 390 850 380 845 365 830 360 840 205 [[V-Cube 6]]
poly 255 50 320 90 405 225 420 290 210 360 230 460 210 465 150 410 90 320 60 240 45 155 120 100 190 70 [[V-Cube 7]]
</imagemap>
[[File:13x13 Rubik's cube - Superflip (cropped).jpg|thumb|A 13×13×13 cube]]
[[File:17 layer cube.png|thumb|A 17×17×17 cube]]

There are many different variations of Rubik's Cubes. The most common class of variants changes the "order" of the cube, defined by the number of layers in each dimension or equivalently by the number of pieces along each edge (including corners). The 2×2×2 ([[Pocket Cube|Pocket/Mini Cube]]), the standard 3×3×3 cube, the 4×4×4 ([[Rubik's Revenge|Rubik's Revenge/Master Cube]]), and the 5×5×5 ([[Professor's Cube]]) are the most well known, as they are all available under the official Rubik's brand. The WCA sanctions speedsolving competitions for cube orders up to 7×7×7. These "big cubes" represent about the limit of practicality for the purpose of competitive speedsolving, as the cubes become increasingly ungainly and prone to mechanical failure (such as "popping", where one or more pieces become dislodged from the puzzle), and average solve times increase quadratically with each larger order, in proportion to the number of total "facelets" of the cube.

Even larger cubes based on the V-Cube patents<ref>{{Cite web |title=US7600756B2 patent |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US7600756B2/en |access-date=14 April 2022 |publisher=Google Patents}}</ref> are commercially available to the mass-market from non-licensed manufacturers, most of them Chinese firms which also produce popular cubes designed for speed-solving. The 17×17×17 "Over the Top" cube (available late 2011) was until December 2017 the largest commercially sold cube, and the most expensive, costing over US$2000. A mass-produced 17×17×17 was later introduced by the Chinese manufacturer YuXin. A working design for a 22×22×22 cube exists and was demonstrated in January 2016,<ref name="cube22">{{Cite web |date=15 January 2016 |title=You Probably Won't Live Long Enough to Solve the World's Largest 22x22 Rubik's Cube |url=http://toyland.gizmodo.com/you-probably-wont-live-long-enough-to-solve-the-worlds-1753163636 |access-date=10 February 2016 |archive-date=10 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210000811/http://toyland.gizmodo.com/you-probably-wont-live-long-enough-to-solve-the-worlds-1753163636 |url-status=dead }}</ref> a 33×33×33 in December 2017,<ref name="cube33">{{Cite web |date=2 December 2017 |title=World Record 33x33x33 Rubik's Cube !!!!! |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqJC3YxfcyM |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/NqJC3YxfcyM |archive-date=11 December 2021 |access-date=10 February 2018 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and a 49×49×49 in August 2024,<ref>{{Cite web |title=49x49x49 New Highest Order nxnxn Twisty Puzzle - TwistyPuzzles.com Forum |url=https://www.twistypuzzles.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=39559 |access-date=2025-07-21 |website=www.twistypuzzles.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZeylpCG3IE |title=NEW WORLD RECORD: The 49x49x49 Rubik's Cube |date=2024-10-02 |last=Preston's Puzzles |access-date=2025-07-21 |via=YouTube}}</ref> though designs this large are not currently mass-produced. Chinese manufacturer ShengShou has been producing cubes in all sizes from 2×2×2 to 15×15×15 (as of May 2020), and has also come out with a 17×17×17.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ShengShou |url=https://www.thecubicle.com/collections/vendors?q=shengshou&constraint=availability_available |access-date=23 May 2020 |website=TheCubicle}}</ref> The largest currently mass-produced cube is 21×21×21, made by MoYu beginning in 2021, and costing between $1100 and $1600.<ref>{{Cite web |title=MoYu 21x21 Cube Stickerless → MasterCubeStore |url=https://mastercubestore.com/yj-moyu/1789-moyu-21x21-cube-stickerless-6970647060887.html |website=MasterCubeStore.com}}</ref>

There are many variations<ref name="variations">{{Cite web |title=Variations |url=http://www.rubiks.com/products |access-date=30 December 2012 |publisher=Rubik's}}</ref> of the original cube, some of which are made by Rubik. The mechanical products include Rubik's Magic, 360, and Twist. There are electronic variants such as Rubik's Revolution and Slide that were also inspired by the original. One of the 3×3×3 Cube variants is Rubik's TouchCube. Sliding a finger across its faces causes its patterns of coloured lights to rotate the same way they would on a mechanical cube. The TouchCube also has buttons for hints and self-solving, and it includes a charging stand. The TouchCube was introduced at the [[American International Toy Fair]] in New York on 15 February 2009.<ref name="reutersny">{{Cite news |date=16 February 2009 |title=NY Toy Fair opens with new Rubik's Cube, Lego deals |publisher=Reuters |url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUKN1546558020090216?sp=true |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126221556/https://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUKN1546558020090216?sp=true |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 November 2020 |access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref><ref name="ny1elec">{{Cite web |title=Toy Fair Kicks Off at Javits Center |url=http://www.ny1.com/Content/Top_Stories/93988/toy-fair-kicks-off-at-javits-center/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422104222/http://ny1.com/content/top_stories/93988/toy-fair-kicks-off-at-javits-center/Default.aspx |archive-date=22 April 2009 |access-date=23 March 2009}}</ref>  Other electronic variations include Rubik’s Connected cubes, which have an associated app that can track player times and give suggestions, and the WOWCube, which has screens instead of stickers and supports dozens of other games.<ref name="2025-10-09 Ars Technica">{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/culture/2025/10/rubiks-cube-reimagined-as-a-multi-game-multi-screened-gadget-for-299/|title=Rubik's Cube gets a $299 update, complete with IPS screens and its own apps|last=Harding|first=Scharon|date=9 October 2025|website=[[Ars Technica]]|access-date=10 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://time.com/collection/best-inventions-2021/6115298/cubios-wowcube/|title=Cubios WOWCube: The 100 Best Inventions of 2021|last=Lindzon|first=Jared|date=10 November 2021|website=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]|access-date=10 October 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/this-smart-rubiks-cube-is-teaching-me-how-to-solve-one-1846301368|author = Andrew Liszewski |date=February 22, 2021 |title=This Smart Rubik’s Cube Is Teaching Me How to Solve One After 40 Years of Failure |website=[[Gizmodo]]}}</ref>

The Cube has inspired an entire category of similar puzzles, commonly referred to as ''[[twisty puzzles]]'', which includes the cubes of different sizes mentioned above, as well as various other geometric shapes. Some such shapes include the [[tetrahedron]] ([[Pyraminx]]), the [[octahedron]] ([[Skewb Diamond]]), the [[dodecahedron]] ([[Megaminx]]), and the [[icosahedron]] ([[Dogic]]). There are also puzzles that change shape such as [[Rubik's Snake]] and the [[Square One (puzzle)|Square One]].

In 2011, Guinness World Records awarded the "largest order Rubiks magic cube" to a 17×17×17 cube, made by [[Oskar van Deventer]].<ref name="largestguinness">{{Cite web |title=Largest Order Rubiks / Magic Cube |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/11000/largest-order-rubiks-magic-cube |access-date=4 January 2013 |website=Guinness World Records}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=van Deventer |first=Oskar |title=Over the Top – 17x17x17 |url=http://www.shapeways.com/model/64058/over-the-top-17x17x17.html}}</ref> On 2 December 2017, Grégoire Pfennig announced that he had broken this record, with a 33×33×33 cube, and that his claim had been submitted to Guinness for verification.<ref name="cube33" /> On 8 April 2018, Grégoire Pfennig announced another world record, the 2x2x50 cube.<ref>{{Cite web |date=8 April 2018 |title=World Record 2x2x50 Rubik's Cube !!! :D |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtIP3lmQHXg |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/EtIP3lmQHXg |archive-date=11 December 2021 |access-date=13 April 2018 |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Whether this is a replacement for the 33×33×33 record, or an additional record, remains to be seen. Pfennig's record was later broken on 30 March 2024 when Preston Alden unveiled his 49×49×49 cube on his YouTube channel<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/4ZeylpCG3IE?si=s9GaDT-YyfEQWwl-|title=NEW WORLD RECORD: The 49x49x49 Rubik's Cube|date=October 23, 2024|access-date=July 12, 2025|website=Youtube: Preston's Puzzles}}</ref> and recognized by Guinness.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/PPIvNwXxs1w?si=7G8jU7q9D512eUXo|title=15 Crazy Rubik's Puzzles (made at home!)|date=July 10, 2025|access-date=July 10, 2025|website=YouTube: Tingman}}</ref>

[[File:Rubiks Platonic Solids.jpg|thumb|All five platonic solids represented by twisty puzzles]]

Some puzzles have also been created in the shape of [[Kepler–Poinsot polyhedron|Kepler–Poinsot polyhedra]], such as [[Alexander's Star]] (a [[great dodecahedron]]). Grégoire Pfennig has also created at least one puzzle in the shape of a [[small stellated dodecahedron]].

===Custom-built puzzles===
[[File:Novelty Keychain Rubiks Cube.JPG|thumb|Novelty keychain]]

Puzzles have been built resembling Rubik's Cube, or based on its inner workings. For example, a cuboid is a puzzle based on Rubik's Cube, but with different functional dimensions, such as 2×2×4, 2×3×4, and 3×3×5.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Martin |first=W. Eric |date=April 2004 |title=Gamebits: Rubik's Cube... Cubed |magazine=Games |volume=28 |issue=3 |page=4}}</ref>

Other Rubik's Cube modifications include "shape mods", cubes that have been extended or truncated to form a new shape. An example of this is the Trabjer's Octahedron, which can be built by truncating and extending portions of a regular 3×3×3. Most shape modifications can be adapted to higher-order cubes. In the case of [[Tony Fisher (puzzle designer)|Tony Fisher]]'s Rhombic Dodecahedron, there are 3×3×3, 4×4×4, 5×5×5, and 6×6×6 versions of the puzzle.

=== Rubik's Cube software ===
Puzzles like Rubik's Cube can be simulated by computer software to provide very large puzzles that are impractical to build, as well as virtual puzzles that cannot be physically built, such as many higher dimensional analogues of the Rubik's Cube.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Green |first=Melinda |date=25 June 2009 |title=Magic Cube 4D |url=http://www.superliminal.com/cube/cube.htm |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Superliminal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Magic Cube 5D |url=http://www.gravitation3d.com/magiccube5d |access-date=20 June 2012 |publisher=Gravitation3d.com}}</ref> Google has released the Chrome Cube Lab in association with [[Ernő Rubik]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Armstrong |first1=Calvin |last2=Goldstine |first2=Susan |author-link2=Susan Goldstine |date=September 2014 |title=Review: Beyond Rubik's Cube Exhibit |journal=The College Mathematics Journal |volume=45 |pages=254–256 |doi=10.4169/college.math.j.45.4.254 |jstor=10.4169/college.math.j.45.4.254 |s2cid=218549192}}</ref> The site has various interactive objects based on Rubik's Cube. Customised versions of Rubik's Cube can be created and uploaded.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chrome Cube Lab |url=https://chrome.com/cubelab#about |access-date=19 May 2014}}</ref>

==Exhibits and art==
[[File:Huge-Cube.jpg|thumb|upright=0.68|Large Rubik's Cube built on the University of Michigan's North Campus]]
[[File:Prizor iz Cádiza.jpg|thumb|Rubik's Cube, as decoration, in [[Cádiz]], Spain]]

[[Liberty Science Center]] in [[Jersey City, New Jersey]], and [[Google]] designed an interactive exhibit based on the Rubik's Cube.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lsc.org/cube |title=Liberty Science Center |access-date=15 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120620144921/http://lsc.org/cube/ |archive-date=20 June 2012 }}</ref> It opened in April 2014 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Cube's invention before traveling internationally for seven years.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://news.yahoo.com/cubism-rubik-helps-toys-anniversary-exhibit-212056694.html | location=New York | agency=Associated Press | title=Cubism? Rubik helps with toy's anniversary exhibit | first=Ted | last=Shaffrey | date=27 April 2012}}</ref> Exhibition elements include a 35-foot-tall rooftop cube made of lights that people can manipulate with their cellphones, a $2.5 million cube made of diamonds, a giant walk-in cube displaying the inner workings of the puzzle, and cube-solving robots.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/07/science/rubiks-cube-enjoys-another-turn-in-the-spotlight.html | location=New York | work=The New York Times | title=Rubik's Cube Twists Back Into Limelight | first=Douglas | last=Quenqua | date=6 August 2012}}</ref>

Probably from the earliest days of the Rubik's Cube craze in the 1980s people have assembled cubes to form simple art pieces, several early 'Folk Artists' are noted for their work.<ref name="holly.wordthunder.com">[http://holly.wordthunder.com/ The Rubik's Cube Designs of Fred Holly] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090831055221/http://holly.wordthunder.com/ |date=31 August 2009 }}</ref><ref name="playagaingames.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.playagaingames.com/entertainment/rubiks_cube_art|title=Jacob Davenport » Rubik's Cube Art|website=www.playagaingames.com}}</ref> Rubik's Cubes have also been the subject of several pop art installations. Owing to their popularity as a children's toy several artists and groups have created large Rubik's Cubes.

Tony Rosenthal's [[Alamo (sculpture)|''Alamo'']] (The ''Astor Place Cube'') is a spinnable statue of a Cube standing in [[New York City]]. Once the cube was covered with coloured panels so that it resembled a Rubik's Cube.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/19/nyregion/19cube.html?_r=1|title=The Cube, Restored, Is Back and Turning at Astor Place |last=Moynihan|first=Colin|date=19 November 2005|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=18 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alltooflat.com/pranks/cube/|title=All Too Flat : Pranks : Cube|access-date=29 May 2009}}</ref> Similarly, the [[University of Michigan]] students covered ''[[Endover]]'' creating a large Rubik's Cube on the [[University of Michigan Central Campus Historic District|University of Michigan's Central Campus]] for [[April Fools' Day|April Fool's Day]] in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|last=McKinney|first=Todd|title=Photo: Blue-bik's cube|url=http://www.ur.umich.edu/0708/Apr07_08/18.php|access-date=3 December 2010|newspaper=The University Record Online|date=7 April 2008|agency=The Regents of the University of Michigan|archive-date=24 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224153003/https://www.ur.umich.edu/0708/Apr07_08/18.php|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Rubik's Cubism===
Beyond Folk Art and oversized cube replicas, artists developed a pointillist art style using the cubes known as Rubik's Cube Art or '''Rubik's Cubism''', which uses a standard Rubik's cube.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space-invaders.com/rubikcubism_.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307005404/http://www.space-invaders.com/rubikcubism_.html|url-status=dead|title=Rubikcubism|archivedate=7 March 2012}}</ref> The earliest recorded artworks appear to have been created by Fred Holly, a legally blind man in his 60s in the mid-1980s.<ref name="holly.wordthunder.com"/> These early pieces focus on geometrics and colour patterns. There does not appear to be other recorded art pieces until the mid-1990s by cube aficionados involved in the puzzle and game industry.<ref name="playagaingames.com"/>

[[File:Mosaic40percent.JPG|thumb|Pete Fecteau's "Dream Big" piece in the making]]
The Folk art form reached another level of its evolution with the development and maturity into a Pop art form consisting of pointillist Cube Art renderings. The street artist who uses the alias "[[Invader (artist)|Invader]]" or "Space Invader" started exhibiting pointillist pieces, including one of a man behind a desk and Mario Bros, using Rubik's Cube in June 2005 in an exhibition named 'Rubik Cubism' at Sixspace in Los Angeles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space-invaders.com/RUBIKCUBISM__.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120303165549/http://www.space-invaders.com/RUBIKCUBISM__.html|url-status=dead|title=RUBIKCUBISM / A LOGICAL EXHIBITION OF INVADER AT SIXSPACE / LA. 2005<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=3 March 2012}}</ref> Prior to this exhibition the artist had used Rubik's Cubes to create giant Space Invaders.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space-invaders.com/rs2.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313200939/http://www.space-invaders.com/rs2.html|url-status=dead|title=Rubik Space By Invader<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=13 March 2012}}</ref> Another artist includes Robbie Mackinnon of Toronto Canada<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cubeworks.ca/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110403071310/http://www.cubeworks.ca/index.php|url-status=dead|title=Home|archivedate=3 April 2011|website=Cubeworks}}</ref> with earliest published work in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.twoguysfromtoronto.com/blog/2008/03/22/rubiks-cube-art/|title=Twoguysfromtoronto.com|website=www.twoguysfromtoronto.com|access-date=27 August 2023|archive-date=23 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423133830/http://www.twoguysfromtoronto.com/blog/2008/03/22/rubiks-cube-art/|url-status=dead}}</ref> who claims to have developed his pointillist Cube Art years earlier while being a teacher in China. Robbie Mackinnon's work has been exhibited in Ripley's Believe it or Not and focussed on using pop-art, while Space Invader has exhibited his Cube Art alongside mosaic Space Invaders in commercial and public galleries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.space-invaders.com/exhibitions.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223203056/http://www.space-invaders.com/exhibitions.html|url-status=dead|title=Exhibitions<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=23 February 2012}}</ref>

In 2010 artist Pete Fecteau created "Dream Big",<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://petefecteau.com/2011/04/15/dream-big/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305071922/http://petefecteau.com/2011/04/15/dream-big/|url-status=dead|archivedate=5 March 2012|title=Dream Big « Pete Fecteau }}</ref> a tribute to ''[[Martin Luther King Jr.]]'' using 4,242 officially licensed Rubik's Cubes. Fecteau also worked with the organization You Can Do The Rubik's Cube<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.youcandothecube.com/cube-mosaics/|title=You Can Do The Cube Official Site|access-date=22 January 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126154840/http://www.youcandothecube.com/cube-mosaics/|archive-date=26 January 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> to create two separate guides designed to teach school children how to create Rubik's Cube mosaics from templates which he also created.

===Music===

Italian composer Maria Mannone created a cube called "CubeHarmonic" which has musical note names on its facets, creating different chord structures depending on its configuration.<ref>{{cite news|first=Siobhan|last=Roberts|title=The Rubik's Cube Turns 50|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/01/science/rubiks-cube-puzzles.html|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=1 July 2024|access-date=4 July 2024}}</ref>

==Reviews==
*''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]''<ref>{{Cite magazine
| url = http://archive.org/details/games-14-1979-november/page/78/mode/2up
 |magazine=GAMES Magazine 
| title= The Magic Cube | author=R.M.K.
| page = 78
| issue=14 |date=1 November 1979}}</ref>
*1980 Games 100 in ''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/games-20-1980-november/page/54/mode/2up | title=GAMES Magazine #20 | date=November 1980 }}</ref>
* [https://archive.org/details/games-26-1981-november/page/54/mode/2up 1981 Games 100] in ''[[Games (magazine)|Games]]''

==See also==<!-- PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER -->
* [[Mirror blocks]]
* [[n-dimensional sequential move puzzle]]
* [[Rubik's Domino]]
* [[Rubik's family cubes of all sizes]]
* [[Spatial ability]]
* [[V-Cube 8]] (8×8×8)
* [[List of Rubik's Cube manufacturers]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* {{Cite book |last=Bizek |first=Hana M. |title=Mathematics of the Rubik's Cube Design |publisher=Dorrance Pub. Co |year=1997 |isbn=0805939199 |location=Pittsburgh, Pa}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Frey |first1=Alexander |url=https://archive.org/details/handbookofcubikm0000frey |title=Handbook of Cubic Math |last2=Singmaster |first2=David |publisher=Enslow |year=1982 |isbn=0894900587 |url-access=registration}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Rubik |first1=Ernő |title=Rubik's Cubic Compendium |last2=Varga |first2=Tamas |last3=Keri |first3=Gerson |last4=Marx |first4=Gyorgy |last5=Vekerdy |first5=Tamas |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1987 |isbn=0198532024 |editor-last=Singmaster |editor-first=David}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Slocum |first1=Jerry |url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9781579128050 |title=The Cube: The Ultimate Guide to the World's Bestselling Puzzle |last2=Singmaster |first2=David |last3=Huang |first3=Wei-Hwa |last4=Gebhardt |first4=Dieter |last5=Hellings |first5=Geert |last6=Rubik |first6=Ernő |publisher=Black Dog & Leventhal |year=2009 |isbn=978-1579128050 |url-access=registration}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=1|wikt=Rubik's cube|v=Speedcubing}}
* {{Cite web |title=Rubik's Cube |url=https://www.google.com/doodles/rubiks-cube |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519015610/https://www.google.com/doodles/rubiks-cube |url-status=dead |archive-date=19 May 2014 |access-date=19 May 2014 |publisher=[[Google logo#Google Doodles|Google Doodle]]}} (Working model)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140326074235/https://www.takeitapart.com/guide/39 Complete disassembly of a 3^3 classic Rubik's cube]
* {{YouTube|id=609nhVzg-5Q|title=How to solve a Rubik's Cube}}
* [http://www.cs.brandeis.edu/~storer/JimPuzzles/ List of related puzzles and solutions]
* {{Official website|https://rubiks.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160710054509/http://safecrackermethod.com/ Safecracker Method: Solving Rubik's Cube with just 10 Numbers]
* [http://www.speedsolving.com/wiki/index.php/Main_Page Speedsolving Wiki]
* [http://worldcubeassociation.org World Cube Association]

{{Rubik's Cube}}
{{Hasbro}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Rubik's Cube| ]]
[[Category:Educational toys]]
[[Category:Logic puzzles]]
[[Category:Mechanical puzzle cubes]]
[[Category:Novelty items]]
[[Category:Single-player games]]
[[Category:Spin Master]]
[[Category:1980s toys]]
[[Category:1980s fads and trends]]
[[Category:Hungarian inventions]]
[[Category:Spiel des Jahres winners]]
[[Category:Ideal Toy Company]]
[[Category:Products introduced in 1977]]
[[Category:1970s toys]]