Precision PC Repair
Newport County · Since 2008
Your Computer · Glossary
Keyboard vs. mouse — what does each one do?
Plain-English explanations for everyday computer terms. No jargon, no assumptions.
The Keyboard / The Mouse
The keyboard is for typing words. The mouse is for pointing at things on the screen and selecting them.
Picture It
Think of filling out a form at a bank counter. You write information into the blanks with a pen — that’s the keyboard’s job, typing words and numbers. You also point at a box and check it — that’s the mouse’s job, pointing and clicking to select something.
How It Works
- Use the keyboard to type letters, numbers, and words.
- Use the mouse (or trackpad — the flat pad on a laptop that works the same way) to move a small arrow around the screen.
- Click the mouse button to select whatever the arrow is pointing at.
- Together, they let you type information and select options on the screen.
If the arrow on screen won’t move, check that the mouse is plugged in or its battery is charged before you worry the computer is broken.
There Are No Dumb Questions
What’s a trackpad?
It’s the flat pad on a laptop that works just like a mouse — slide your finger and the arrow moves.
Why do some people click twice really fast?
That’s called a “double-click,” and it’s how you open things like icons and folders.
Wiggle your mouse right now and watch the little arrow move across your screen.
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