A ship's wheel or boat's wheel is a device used aboard a water vessel to steer that vessel and control its course. Together with the rest of the steering mechanism, it forms part of the helm. It is connected to a mechanical, electric servo, or hydraulic system which alters the horizontal angle of the vessel's rudder relative to its hull. In some modern ships the wheel is replaced with a simple toggle that remotely controls an electro-mechanical or electro-hydraulic drive for the rudder, with a rudder position indicator presenting feedback to the helmsman.
Iconic image of a helmsman at a ship's wheel: the Gloucester Fisherman's Memorial.
Helm of TS Golden Bear
Britannia Yacht Club's Commodore Boardroom features a ship's wheel table
USS LST-325 ship's wheel and engine order telegraph
Steering is the control of the direction of motion or the components that enable its control. Steering is achieved through various arrangements, among them ailerons for airplanes, rudders for boats, tilting rotors for helicopters, and many more.
A cyclist steering a bicycle by turning the handlebar and leaning
Part of a car steering mechanism: tie rod, steering arm, king pin axis (using ball joints)
Rack and pinion unit mounted in the cockpit of an Ariel Atom sports car chassis, atypical of contemporary production automobiles
Non-assisted steering box of a motor vehicle