A navicomputer, alternatively referred to as an astrogation computer, navicomp, nav computer, or navigation computer, was an instrument used to perform the complex computations required for traversing hyperspace. These navicomputers were responsible for determining crucial information such as the precise target location, the most efficient and secure path to reach it, and the quantity of hyperspace jumps needed. While the majority of starships were equipped with some form of nav computer, certain starfighters relied solely on the astrogation buffer integrated within an astromech droid. Smaller vessels frequently had nav computers with restricted capabilities, able to store data for only a limited set of jumps; conversely, larger vessels featured expansive, specialized nav computers that could retain coordinates for virtually any anticipated destination. Certain nav computers were even designed to be portable. Smugglers commonly employed voice-print security on their navicomputers to conceal their ship's past locations.
Within every navicomputer was stored the Galactic coordinates for each and every star system throughout the known galaxy.