A computer mouse, often called a computer mouse pad, is a small hand-held pointing device typically made of plastic or rubber that recognizes two-dimensional movement relative to a flat surface. This movement is typically interpreted by a computer’s pointing mechanism, which enables a user to smoothly manipulate the user interface of a computer through the use of one or more wheels. A wheel can rotate in one direction or another, and this rotation is detected by a sensor that in turn detects the presence of pressure. This type of input device operates on a similar principle as that of a game controller. A user can rotate his or her hands in any direction, while holding the wheel of the mouse in a constant position relative to the screen.

Computer mice differ from optical mice in that they do not have a scroll wheel. Instead, the mouse wheel rotates mechanically on two buttons, either side of the mouse. Some computer mice are equipped with a mouse wheel that can be activated by pressing certain buttons. Some, such as the Logitech Mouse, also feature 2 individually controlled buttons, while other models include a scrolling wheel and a moment timer.

A third common type of computer mouse is the Bluetooth mouse. As the name would imply, this mouse works with Bluetooth devices. Typically, a Bluetooth mouse will operate with a Logitech or other wireless mouse, but they may work with any mouse, regardless of its shape or form. These types of mice are typically small, about half the size of a standard wireless mouse, with a protruding USB plug on one end. The plug, which plugs into a small port on the computer, allows the user to select the wireless device to connect to.

A footpad is a small, light touch-pad located on the bottom or side of the computer mouse. It is used to provide users with a comfortable and ergonomic position to hold onto while using the device. Many times the footclick can be used to scroll through pages or to focus the cursor, and there are even some models with a scrolling wheel. The footpad also has a number of buttons, normally function keys, for navigating through menus or controlling other functions of the computer mouse.

One of the most common pieces of hardware that a computer mouse will come with is an optical end. This piece of hardware allows the user to control the computer mouse through the use of optical signals. One of the most popular uses of this end is for the function keys at the top of the mouse. The optical end is powered by the mouse itself and can be maneuvered in a number of different ways, including turning the mouse wheel or moving the mouse itself. The optical end of the mouse can also be used as a shift key.

A two-button mouse usually features a click button on its left side, a home key on its right side, and a scroll button on its underside. These two buttons can be used in combination to move the cursor around the screen or to highlight text. Most often, the two buttons of the computer mouse are used to scroll through pages or to enter text into boxes, although there are some models that feature a third button that can be pressed to switch the computer mouse from a mouse to a touchpad. When a computer mouse first came into existence, it was referred to as a machine mouse, because it used a lever to let the user pull back on the lever in order to scroll the wheel or to depress the two buttons. These lever driven mechanisms were extremely hazardous because they could easily fall and result in bodily harm.

Computer mice have become a far more popular piece of hardware since they can now be purchased with wireless options. This allows the user to take the computer mouse with them anywhere they go and enables the user to control their computer mouse through various electronic devices. Many of the best brands of wireless mice are cordless. A wireless computer mouse uses a radio frequency to connect with the computer and with each other. The transmitter on the computer sends the signal to the receiver on the wireless mouse, which then sends the signal to the device that it is plugged into. Thus, wireless mice allow the user to use their computer without having to stand directly in front of their computer to type in commands or to scroll through pages.

There are two types of computer mouse – optical and laser. Optical mice use an LED at the end of a long cord, whereas laser mice use a laser beam to provide input. Both types of mice use a pointing device (the ‘nose wheel’) to move the cursor around the screen. Typically, laser mice have a wider selection of applications than their optical counterparts, because they eliminate the need for the user to physically move the cursor. However, the cost of laser mice can be quite high.