Glossary
Pre-travel
The distance a key must move downward before the switch registers a keystroke, typically around 2 millimeters on standard switches.
Pre-travel is the distance a keycap moves from its resting position to the point where the switch actuates and sends a signal to the keyboard. On most standard MX-style mechanical switches this sits around 2 millimeters, though it varies slightly by switch design, and it is separate from total travel, which includes the extra distance to a full bottom-out.
Shorter pre-travel generally means faster response, which is why some low-profile and gaming-focused switches shorten this distance deliberately. Magnetic and optical switches can sometimes make pre-travel adjustable in software, letting a user set a lower actuation point for faster games or a higher one to reduce accidental presses during typing.
When comparing keyboards or switches, pre-travel numbers are only useful alongside actuation force, since a short pre-travel with a heavy spring can still feel slow to trigger under a light touch. Buyers sometimes confuse pre-travel with total travel distance, which describes the full keystroke rather than just the portion before actuation.