Glossary of Mechanical Keyboard Terms

New to mechanical keyboards? This glossary explains the most common terms you’ll encounter. Use it as a quick reference whenever you come across unfamiliar terminology.

A

Actuation Force The amount of pressure needed to register a keypress, measured in grams. Lighter switches (45g) require less force, while heavier switches (80g+) need more pressure.

Actuation Point The distance a key must travel before it registers a keystroke. Most mechanical switches actuate around 2mm, before the key bottoms out.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) A common plastic used for keycaps. ABS feels smooth and sounds higher-pitched, but develops a shiny appearance over time from finger oils.

B

Bottom Out When a key is pressed all the way down until it hits the keyboard base. Some typists prefer to bottom out, while others stop at the actuation point.

Bottom-Out Force The amount of force required to press a key completely down. This is higher than the actuation force.

C

Cherry MX The most popular and widely-used mechanical switch manufacturer. Many other brands create “Cherry MX-compatible” switches that fit the same keycaps and keyboards.

Clicky A switch type that produces an audible click sound when pressed. Popular with typists who want clear audio feedback. Example: Cherry MX Blue.

Clack A higher-pitched keyboard sound, often from harder keycap materials like PBT hitting the switch housing.

Custom Keyboard A keyboard built from individual components (case, PCB, switches, keycaps) rather than purchased pre-built. Allows maximum personalization.

D

Doubleshot A keycap manufacturing method where legends are made from two layers of plastic molded together. The legends never fade because they’re part of the keycap structure.

Dye-Sublimation (Dye-Sub) A keycap printing method that uses heat to transfer dye into the plastic. Creates durable legends that won’t fade, though limited to darker legends on lighter keycaps.

E

Endgame The mythical “perfect” keyboard that requires no further upgrades. In practice, most enthusiasts keep building new keyboards despite claiming they’ve reached their endgame.

F

Film Thin plastic sheets placed inside switches to reduce wobble and change the sound. Common modification for smoother feel and deeper sound.

Foam Mod Adding foam inside the keyboard case to dampen sound and reduce ping or hollow acoustics. Popular types include case foam, PCB foam, and PE foam.

G

Gasket Mount A mounting style where the plate sits on gaskets (usually silicone or poron) between the plate and case. Provides a softer, more flexible typing feel compared to tray mount.

Group Buy (GB) A purchasing method where buyers commit to orders before production begins. Common for custom keycap sets and limited-edition keyboards. Expect 3-12 month wait times.

H

HHKB (Happy Hacking Keyboard) A 60% keyboard layout popularized by the Happy Hacking Keyboard. Features a unique layout with Control where Caps Lock normally sits.

Hot-Swap A keyboard that allows you to change switches without soldering. Switches simply click in and out of sockets on the PCB.

K

Keycap Profile The shape and height of keycaps. Different rows have different angles and heights. Common profiles include Cherry, OEM, SA, and DSA.

Keyswitch The mechanical component under each key that registers keypresses. Contains a stem, spring, and housing.

L

Layout The arrangement and number of keys on a keyboard. Common layouts include full-size (104 keys), TKL (87 keys), and 60% (61 keys).

Legend The letters, numbers, or symbols printed on keycaps.

Linear A switch type with smooth, consistent resistance throughout the keypress. No tactile bump or click. Popular for gaming. Example: Cherry MX Red.

Lube (Lubrication) Applying special lubricant to switch components to reduce scratchiness and modify sound. Common modification that significantly improves switch feel.

M

Mechanical Switch The individual spring-loaded mechanism under each key. Contains moving parts that provide tactile feedback and register keypresses.

Mod (Modification) Customizing or upgrading a keyboard beyond its stock configuration. Common mods include lubing switches, adding foam, and replacing stabilizers.

O

O-Ring Small rubber rings placed on keycap stems to dampen bottom-out sound and reduce travel distance. Simple mod but can make typing feel mushy.

P

Plate A rigid layer (usually aluminum or brass) between the switches and PCB. Provides stability and affects typing feel and sound.

PCB (Printed Circuit Board) The electronic board that connects all the switches and registers keypresses. Can be hot-swap or solder-only.

PBT (Polybutylene Terephthalate) A durable plastic used for premium keycaps. Has a textured feel, produces deeper sound, and resists shine from finger oils better than ABS.

R

Rattling Unwanted noise from stabilizers moving in their housings. Usually fixed by lubing and proper installation.

S

Soldered A keyboard where switches are permanently attached to the PCB with solder. Requires desoldering to change switches but generally provides better stability.

South-Facing When the LED cutout on a switch points toward the user. Reduces interference with Cherry profile keycaps but may affect RGB lighting visibility.

Spring The metal coil inside a switch that provides resistance. Heavier springs require more force to press.

Stabilizers (Stabs) Wire mechanisms under longer keys (spacebar, shift, enter) that keep them level when pressed off-center. Quality and tuning dramatically affect typing experience.

Stem The part of a switch that connects to the keycap. Most mechanical keyboards use Cherry MX-style cross-shaped stems.

T

Tactile A switch type with a noticeable bump during the keypress that indicates actuation. Provides physical feedback without clicking sound. Example: Cherry MX Brown.

Thock A deep, low-pitched keyboard sound, often associated with well-built keyboards using PBT keycaps and proper modifications. Highly desired by enthusiasts.

Travel Distance The total distance a key can move from rest to bottom-out, typically 4mm for mechanical switches.

Tray Mount A basic mounting style where the PCB screws directly to the case. Provides a firmer, less flexible typing feel compared to gasket mount.

TKL (Tenkeyless) An 87-key layout that removes the number pad from a full-size keyboard. Provides more desk space while keeping arrow keys and function row.

6

60% A compact 61-key layout that removes the function row, arrow keys, and navigation cluster. All functions accessed through layer keys (Fn combinations).

65% A compact layout similar to 60% but includes dedicated arrow keys and a few navigation keys. Popular balance of size and functionality.

75% A compact layout that keeps the function row and arrow keys in a condensed form factor. Similar width to 60% keyboards but with more dedicated keys.

Common Combinations

TKL 75%: Not to be confused with each other - TKL has the standard spacing while 75% compresses everything together.

Hot-Swap vs Soldered: Hot-swap allows easy switch changes, soldered provides slightly better stability and feel.

Linear vs Tactile vs Clicky: The three main switch types, each offering different feedback and sound characteristics.

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This glossary covers the essentials, but the mechanical keyboard community constantly creates new terms and modding techniques. Don’t worry about knowing everything at once - learn as you explore what interests you most.