Keyboard Glossary

The terms you’ll meet in every guide on this site, defined the way builders actually use them.

Actuation force

The force, measured in grams, required to press a switch far enough to register a keystroke. Distinct from bottom-out force, which is the force at full travel.

Band-aid mod

A stabilizer mod where thin cushioning material is placed under the stabilizer housing to soften the sound of the wire hitting the PCB. One of the three classic stabilizer fixes alongside clipping and lubing.

Bottom-out

Pressing a key through its full travel until the stem hits the housing. Bottom-out force and sound differ from actuation, which is why two switches with the same actuation weight can feel completely different.

Gasket mount

A mounting style where the plate is suspended between gasket strips rather than screwed rigidly to the case, producing a softer, more cushioned typing feel.

Group buy

A pre-order model where buyers commit money months (sometimes years) before a board or keycap set is manufactured. Carries real fulfillment risk — evaluate vendor history before committing.

Hotswap

A PCB with sockets that let you install and remove switches without soldering. The right answer for almost every first board, because it makes switch experimentation cheap.

Linear / Tactile / Clicky

The three switch families: linears travel smoothly with no bump, tactiles have a feelable bump at actuation, and clickies add an audible click mechanism to the bump.

Lubing

Applying thin lubricant (typically Krytox- or Tribosys-class) to switch rails, stems, and springs to reduce scratch and spring ping. The single most common switch tune, and the one with the most technique behind it.

PBT / ABS

The two main keycap plastics. PBT is more textured and resists shine; ABS feels smoother and develops shine with use but enables the sharper legends and colors of premium doubleshot sets.

Plate mount / Screw-in (stabilizers)

The two common stabilizer mounting types. Screw-in stabilizers fasten to the PCB and are generally more stable; plate-mount stabilizers clip to the plate and are more common on budget boards.

Spring ping

A metallic ringing sound from the switch spring resonating, audible on some stock switches. Usually fixed by lubing the spring.

Stabilizer

The mechanism that keeps long keys (spacebar, enter, shift) level when pressed off-center. Stabilizer rattle is the most audible flaw on most stock boards — and the cheapest to fix.

Stem wobble

Side-to-side play in a switch stem, which translates to keycap wobble. Varies by switch manufacturer and tolerances; films can reduce housing-related wobble.

Switch films

Thin shims placed between a switch’s top and bottom housing to tighten tolerances and reduce housing rattle. Part of the standard tune alongside lubing.

Thock / Clack

The hobby’s onomatopoeia for deep (thock) versus sharp (clack) typing sounds. Used everywhere, measurable nowhere — treat any sound claim without a controlled recording with suspicion.