Mouse Terminology Glossary
From DPI to debounce time, understand every mouse term that matters for gaming and productivity. Click on any term to learn more and find related tests.
Performance Metrics
DPI (Dots Per Inch)
DPI measures how many pixels your cursor moves on screen for every inch you move your mouse physically. Higher DPI = faster cursor movement. Most gamers use 400-1600 DPI. Also called CPI (Counts Per Inch) by some manufacturers.
Try related test →CPS (Clicks Per Second)
CPS measures how many mouse clicks you can perform in one second. Average users click 4-7 CPS, while trained gamers can reach 10-14 CPS. Techniques like butterfly clicking can achieve 15-20+ CPS.
Try related test →Polling Rate (Hz)
How often your mouse reports its position to the computer per second. Measured in Hertz (Hz). 1000Hz means 1000 updates per second (1ms delay). Gaming mice often offer 1000Hz, with some reaching 8000Hz for ultra-low latency.
Try related test →Input Lag / Latency
The delay between your physical mouse movement and the cursor responding on screen. Includes sensor latency, USB/wireless transmission, and display processing. Modern gaming mice have under 1ms sensor latency.
Try related test →Lift-off Distance (LOD)
The height at which the mouse sensor stops tracking when lifted. Lower LOD is preferred by gamers who frequently lift and reposition their mouse. Most gaming mice offer 1-3mm adjustable LOD.
Mouse Acceleration
When enabled, faster mouse movements travel farther than slower movements at the same physical distance. Most gamers disable this (called 'Enhanced Pointer Precision' in Windows) for consistent 1:1 control.
Read guide →Hardware Components
Optical Sensor
The component that tracks mouse movement by taking thousands of pictures per second of the surface below. Modern sensors use infrared or visible light LEDs. Top sensors include PixArt PAW3395 and Razer Focus Pro.
Try related test →Mouse Switch
The mechanical component under each mouse button that registers clicks. Common types include Omron, Huano, TTC, and optical switches. Rated for 20-80 million clicks. Wear can cause double-clicking issues.
Try related test →Debounce Time
The delay the mouse firmware waits before registering a second click, preventing accidental double-clicks from switch bounce. Lower debounce = faster response but higher risk of false double-clicks. Typically 4-16ms.
Read guide →PTFE Feet / Mouse Skates
The small pads on the bottom of your mouse that allow it to glide smoothly. Made from PTFE (Teflon). Higher quality PTFE = smoother glide. Should be replaced when worn for optimal performance.
Read guide →Clicking Techniques
Jitter Clicking
A clicking technique where you tense your arm muscles to create rapid vibrations, producing very fast clicks (10-14 CPS). Popular in Minecraft PvP. Can cause strain if done incorrectly.
Try related test →Butterfly Clicking
A technique using two fingers (typically index and middle) alternating rapidly on the mouse button. Can achieve 15-25 CPS. Requires practice and a mouse that registers fast alternating clicks.
Try related test →Drag Clicking
Dragging your finger across the mouse button to create friction-induced multiple clicks. Can register 30+ CPS in short bursts. Only works on mice with specific surface textures and low debounce times.
Read guide →Settings & Configuration
Raw Input
A Windows API that allows games to read mouse input directly from the hardware, bypassing OS processing like acceleration. Results in more consistent, unmodified mouse movement. Enable in game settings when available.
Read guide →eDPI (Effective DPI)
Your true sensitivity calculated by multiplying mouse DPI × in-game sensitivity. Allows comparing sensitivity across different DPI settings. Example: 800 DPI × 1.0 sens = 400 DPI × 2.0 sens = 800 eDPI.
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