Glossary
Hall effect switch
A switch that uses a magnet and a sensor to detect key position, often with an actuation point adjustable in software.
A hall effect switch replaces the physical metal contact used in a traditional mechanical switch with a small magnet and a sensor that detects the magnet's position as the key moves. Because there is no metal-on-metal contact required to register a press, these switches do not suffer from the contact wear or debounce issues that can eventually affect standard switches.
The main practical advantage is that many hall effect keyboards let you set the actuation point in software, choosing a shorter travel for faster gaming response or a longer one to avoid accidental presses while typing. Some models also support features like rapid trigger, which resets actuation dynamically based on key movement rather than a fixed point.
Hall effect and optical switches are sometimes confused with each other, but optical switches use a light beam interruption instead of a magnetic field, and the two are not cross-compatible. When buying a hall effect board, check whether the software for adjusting actuation points is available on your operating system, since some manufacturer software is Windows-only.