Mechanical Keyboard Glossary: 24 Terms Explained
The words that show up in mechanical keyboard specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- ABS
- Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a lighter, glossier keycap plastic that types crisply but tends to develop shine faster than PBT.
- Read more about abs
- Actuation force
- The amount of force needed to press a switch past its actuation point and register a keystroke.
- Read more about actuation force
- Band-aid mod
- Placing small adhesive bandage patches on the PCB under stabilizer wire contact points to quiet rattle and ticking.
- Read more about band-aid modRelated: Best Band-Aid Mod Kits (2026)
- Case foam
- Foam placed inside a keyboard case to dampen hollow resonance and give keystrokes a deeper, less pingy sound.
- Read more about case foamRelated: Best Keyboard Case Foam (2026)
- Clicky switch
- A tactile switch with an added mechanism that produces an audible click at or near the actuation point.
- Read more about clicky switchRelated: Best Clicky Mechanical Switches (2026)
- Doubleshot
- A keycap manufacturing method that molds legends from a separate piece of plastic, so they cannot wear or fade off.
- Read more about doubleshotRelated: Best Doubleshot Keycaps (2026)
- Form factor
- The physical size and key layout of a keyboard, ranging from full-size down to 60 percent and smaller.
- Read more about form factorRelated: Best TKL (Tenkeyless) Mechanical Keyboards (2026)
- Gasket mount
- A keyboard mounting style where the plate floats on soft gaskets between the top and bottom case, instead of screwing directly to it.
- Read more about gasket mount
- Hall effect switch
- A switch that uses a magnet and a sensor to detect key position, often with an actuation point adjustable in software.
- Read more about hall effect switchRelated: Best Magnetic Hall Effect Switches and Keyboards (2026)
- Hot-swappable
- A keyboard whose printed circuit board has sockets that let switches be removed and replaced without soldering.
- Read more about hot-swappableRelated: Best Hot-Swappable Mechanical Keyboards (2026)
- ISO vs ANSI layout
- The two dominant keyboard layout standards, differing mainly in the enter key shape and the keys next to it.
- Read more about iso vs ansi layout
- Keycap profile
- The height and sculpted shape of keycaps across the rows of a keyboard, such as Cherry, OEM, SA and XDA.
- Read more about keycap profileRelated: Best Cherry Profile Keycaps (2026)
- Linear switch
- A mechanical keyboard switch with a smooth, uninterrupted downstroke and no tactile bump or audible click.
- Read more about linear switchRelated: Best Linear Mechanical Switches (2026)
- Lubing
- Applying a thin layer of lubricant to switch or stabilizer parts to reduce friction, scratch and rattle.
- Read more about lubingRelated: Best Switch Lube (2026)
- Macropad
- A small standalone keypad with a handful of keys, often programmable, used alongside a main keyboard for shortcuts.
- Read more about macropad
- North-facing switch
- A switch orientation where the LED cutout in the housing faces toward the top of the keyboard, away from the typist.
- Read more about north-facing switch
- O-ring
- A small rubber ring placed under a keycap to cushion the bottom-out and quiet the sound of each keystroke.
- Read more about o-ring
- PBT
- Polybutylene terephthalate, a durable keycap plastic known for resisting shine and holding texture longer than ABS.
- Read more about pbtRelated: Best PBT Keycaps (2026)
- Plate foam
- A thin foam layer placed directly under the switch plate, closer to the switches than case foam, to soften sound further.
- Read more about plate foam
- Pre-travel
- The distance a key must move downward before the switch registers a keystroke, typically around 2 millimeters on standard switches.
- Read more about pre-travel
- QMK/VIA firmware
- Open-source keyboard firmware and a companion app that let you remap keys and build custom layers without writing code.
- Read more about qmk/via firmware
- Stabilizer
- The wire and housing mechanism under long keys like the spacebar and shift keys that keeps them level when pressed off-center.
- Read more about stabilizerRelated: Best Screw-In Stabilizers (2026)
- Switch film
- A thin plastic sheet placed between the top and bottom housing halves of a switch to reduce wobble and rattle.
- Read more about switch film
- Tactile switch
- A mechanical keyboard switch with a distinct bump partway through the keystroke that signals actuation without a click.
- Read more about tactile switchRelated: Best Tactile Mechanical Switches (2026)