this post was submitted on 12 Jan 2026
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Isn't a "click" just physically making two connectors touch so that a circuit is made to send the signal of an action? There doesn't have to be any noise associated does there?

For example, if we used 2 springs, one to hold up the button and another to make the contact with the circuit, the click would be silent. Or maybe something already exists that I can swap out into my mouse?

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[–] Shadow_Zwiebel@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Yeah you are right. There are mice that don't "click". But they feel aweful.

I don't think there is something you could just easily swap, but I'm not sure.

[–] just2look@lemmy.zip 10 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Exactly this. People generally prefer tactile feedback, and it increases how well people use tools. That is also why most people that have used mechanical keyboards prefer them to membrane. The noise is just a byproduct of the tactile click.

Fun example of this is the F-16 fighter jet. It was the first US fighter jet that was fly by wire. Since there was no mechanical linkage, the flight stick didn't need to move to function, so when it was first built the flight stick was immobile and simply registered direction and pressure. Pilots hated it, and said it made flying more difficult, so the stick was modified to move despite there being no mechanical or engineering need for it to do so.

[–] sip@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

tactile feedback is for your finger to feel, as per the name,, and doesn't necessarily make an audible click.

[–] just2look@lemmy.zip 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I'm aware of what tactile feedback is. The audible click is generally a byproduct of the mechanism that creates the tactile click. I don't know that I've ever used a keyboard or mouse that has a satisfying clicky feel without some noise accompanying it. You can definitely do things to make them quieter though.

[–] sip@programming.dev 1 points 2 weeks ago

ah, sorry then. my kb has mx brown switches which are tactile, but silent. the key might bottoms out and make some sound

[–] lornosaj@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Doesn’t have to sound awful though if done right - I switched from Logi MX3 to MX4 mouse and it surprised me as it doesn’t have an audible click whole still having some noticeable feedback to it.

[–] Shadow_Zwiebel@sh.itjust.works 1 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah for normal you don't hear the click when you're wearing headphones or sth. like this. So that doesnt make any big difference. Just the feeling is important. Thats also what I meant to say :)