Keyboard Glossary

The keyboard hobby and industry is filled with new terms and acronyms. Don’t let technical jargon get in the way of your perfect build! We’ve compiled a list of the most important vocabulary to help you navigate the world of keyboards. A lot of terms are further expanded on in different articles.

40%, 60%, 75%, X%: the form factor of a keyboard relative to a standard full-size (100%) keyboard.

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) plastic: a type of plastic commonly used for keycaps and keyboard cases. ABS keycaps get shiny over time as you use them. Compare with PBT plastic.

For example: GMK keysets use ABS plastic.

ANSI: a physical keyboard layout, common in the US. Contrast to ISO layout.

BoW (Black on White): a common color combination for keycaps, featuring black legends on a white keycap. Compare with WoB (White on Black).

Cherry MX: a line of keyboard switches manufactured by the company Cherry. Cherry MX switches have a ‘+’ stem.

MX-compatible keysets are compatible with MX-style switches that have the same ‘+’ stem.

Cherry Profile: a sculpted keycap profile. (See: Profile)

Clicky switch: a type of switch that makes a pronounced 'click' sound when pressed. Compare with linear and tactile switches.

For example: Cherry MX Blue is a clicky switch.

Compact Keyboard: a small keyboard (usually 60% and smaller) with fewer physical keys than standard keyboards. These rely on function layers to access the missing keys.

A compact 60% keyboard, relative to a full-size keyboard. It shares the same layout, but without the numpad, arrow keys, navigation keys, and function row.

Designer: the person who designs a product. A designer will often partner with a vendor to bring their design to market.

Doubleshot: a keycap production method. The keycap is made by combining two plastics, injecting one colored plastic for the legend into the keycap mold. This requires a mold for each unique key. Doubleshot legends don’t fade over time.

DSA: a uniform keycap profile. (See: Profile.)

Dye-sublimation (dye-sub): a keycap production method. Laser-engraved legends are infilled by a dye or clay material, filling the cut-out void. (See: Reverse dye-sublimation.)

Extras: after a Group Buy (GB), vendors will often order some extra stock for people who missed the GB. These become available after the original GB orders are fulfilled. Extras are limited and often sold first come first served.

Full-size (100%) Keyboard: a keyboard size with all the keys you’re used to—modifiers, arrow keys, function row, and numpad.

Function Keys: the F1-F12 keys, often in the top row.

Geekhack (GH): a forum for mechanical keyboard enthusiasts.

GMK: a German company that manufactures keycaps. GMK keycaps use doubleshot ABS plastic, and are Cherry profile.

Group Buy (GB): a pre-order for a product before it’s been manufactured. A GB is usually open for several weeks. After the GB, vendors place the order with the manufacturer. Customers receive their items after production is completed, often months later.

Hotswap: refers to a PCB or keyboard that does not require soldering switches onto. Hotswap keyboards allow you to easily change out your switches—a soldered keyboard would require desoldering all switches and soldering in new ones to change them.

Infinikey (IFK): a keycap manufacturer. Infinikey keycaps use dye-sublimation and reverse dye-sublimation, PBT plastic, and are Cherry profile.

Interest Check (IC): before a product is available for sale, the designer checks whether there’s enough interest from the community to buy it, and takes feedback. Often an IC will be posted on forums like Geekhack and Reddit.

ISO: a keyboard layout, more commonly used outside of the US. Contrast to ANSI layout. When buying custom keysets, ISO keys are often sold separately from base/core kits.

KAM: a uniform keycap profile. (See: Profile.)

KAT: a sculpted keycap profile. (See: Profile.)

Keycap: the plastic cap that covers the switches on a keyboard.

Keyset: a set of keycaps.

Kit: a way of referring to what you’re buying:

Keyset kits: the group of keycaps you buy, typically grouped by function or design. For example: a Base Kit often covers the main keys like letters and numbers; a Novelty Kit includes keys in accent colors or with icon legends.
Keyboard kits: a DIY keyboard kit that you need to build yourself—it contains only parts like the case, plate, and PCB. Switches, keycaps, and stabilizers are not included and need to be bought separately.

Krytox: a popular brand of lube.

Layer: a feature where the keyboard layout has different “layers” that can be toggled. This allows you to maintain functionality of many keys on a smaller physical form factor.

For example: on a laptop keyboard, you might hold down the function key (fn) to access volume controls or to adjust your screen brightness.

Legend: what’s printed on a keycap—i.e. the letters, numbers, and icons.

Linear: a type of switch where each press goes down smoothly, with no tactile bump feedback. Compare with tactile and clicky switches.

For example: Cherry MX Red is a linear switch.

Lubricant (lube): lubricants used to modify switches and stabilizers, which affects their smoothness, sound, and consistency.

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ): the minimum number of ordered units needed for a Group Buy product to go into the manufacturing phase.

For example: If a keyset has an MOQ of 100, it needs at least 100 pre-orders during Group Buy for it to move into production.

Numpad: the number cluster typically found on the right side of a full-size keyboard

OEM: a sculpted keycap profile. Most pre-built keyboards come with OEM keycaps. (See: Profile)

PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) plastic: a type of plastic often used for keycaps. PBT keycaps are more textured compared to ABS plastic, and don’t get shiny with use.

For example: Infinikey keycaps are made from PBT plastic.

Pre-built Keyboard: a fully-assembled keyboard that you can use out of the box. Contrast with a keyboard kit where you need to source additional parts for and build yourself.

Proxy: a vendor that serves a specific region. Group Buys will often have proxies across different continents, as proxies can offer better rates to their customers in their own region.

For example: The Key Company is based in the US and primarily serves US customers; SwitchKeys is their proxy in Australia.

QMK (Quantum Mechanical Keyboard Firmware): the firmware used to program keys. Used with the QMK Configurator.

Reverse Dye-sublimation (reverse dye-sub): a keycap production method. The base cap plastic is dyed around the keycap legend or image. (See: Dye-sublimation.)

Round 2 (R2): when a Group Buy product is run a second time.

SA: a tall, sculpted keycap profile. (See: Profile.)

Sculpted profile: a type of keycap profile where each row of keys has a different height and shape. This means that when buying a keyset with a sculpted profile, you need to pay attention to what row a key sits on when checking compatibility with your keyboard. (See: Profile.)

For example: Cherry, SA, and KAT are sculpted profiles.

Southpaw: refers to the numpad on the left side of the keyboard, instead of the right.

Split Keyboard: a keyboard layout that’s split in half. Some have the keys split in half on a single board; others have two separate boards.

Stabilizer (stab): a keyboard part that is placed next to the switches for larger keys, such as the spacebar, to prevent the keycap from wobbling when pressed. Keys that are 2u or larger use stabilizers.

Tactile: a type of switch where there's a noticeable tactile bump when pressing the key. Compare with clicky and linear switches.

For example: Cherry MX Brown is a tactile switch.

Tenkeyless (TKL): a standard keyboard layout without the numpad. AKA an 80% keyboard.

*A TKL is a standard keyboard layout without the numpad.*

TriboSys: a popular brand of lube.

Uniform profile: a type of keycap profile where all keys have the same shape and height. This makes it possible to place the keycaps on whichever rows you want. (See: Profile)

For example: DSA and KAM are uniform profiles.

Vendor: the company that sells products.

For example: The Key Dot Company is a vendor that sells primarily to customers in North America.

WoB (White on Black): a common color combination for keycaps, featuring white legends on a black keycap. Compare with BoW (Black on White).

Switch Anatomy