Mouse
Mouse
An input device used to move the pointer on a computer screen and click to select items.
In Simple Terms
A mouse is a device you move by hand to control the pointer on your computer screen. Sliding it across your desk moves the pointer on screen in the same direction, and pressing the buttons on top lets you open files or confirm selections. Since it lets you handle anything other than typing in a very intuitive way, it's commonly used together with desktop computers.
Behind the Name
The mouse got its name because its rounded shape cupped in your palm, with a cable trailing out the back, reminded people of an actual mouse. Wireless mice don't have that tail-like cable anymore, but the name stuck around anyway.
Take a Closer Look!
A mouse is a common input device used to move the pointer or cursor on your computer screen and interact with on-screen buttons and files.
Because moving the device itself in your hand directly translates into movement on screen, it's a setup that lets even beginners operate a computer intuitively.
Broadly speaking, there are two types: wired mice that connect via a cable, and wireless mice that let you work without any cord getting in the way.
Most mice track movement using an optical sensor on the underside, and there are many variations to choose from depending on how you'll use it.
A trackball, which you operate by rolling a ball with your finger instead of sliding the whole device, is a different kind of input device, though it's sometimes used in place of a mouse.
The main actions you do with a mouse include clicking to select an item on screen, double-clicking (pressing a button twice quickly), and dragging to grab and move something across the screen.
Since these make selecting and moving things on screen much smoother than relying on the keyboard alone, mice are used as a standard part of most computers.