Editing Keyboard technology (section)

=== Metal contact ===
[[File:Cherry MX -- opened, 2.jpg|thumb|right|Cherry MX Blue (left) and disassembled Cherry MX Brown (right)]]
Keyboards which have metal contact switches typically use discrete modules for each key. This type of switch are usually composed of a housing, a spring, and a slider, and sometimes other parts such as a separate tactile leaf or clickbar. 

[[file:Cherry MX -- switch contacts.jpg|thumb|right|Cherry MX switch contacts]]
At rest, the metal contacts inside of the switch are held apart. As the switch is pressed down, the contacts are held together to conduct current for actuation. Many switch designs use gold for contact material to prolong the lifetime of the switch  by preventing switch failure from oxidization. Most designs use a metal leaf, where the movable contact is a leaf spring.

A major producer of discrete metal contact switches is [[Cherry (company)|Cherry]], who has manufactured the [[Cherry MX]] family of switches since the 1980s. Cherry's color-coding system of categorizing switches has been imitated by other switch manufacturers, such as Gateron and Kailh among many others.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Ernie |title=The Company That Makes Mechanical Keyboards Clack |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-company-that-makes-mechanical-keyboards-clack/ |website=Vice |access-date=11 September 2021 |date=10 July 2018 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911200340/https://www.vice.com/en/article/a3qzy5/the-company-that-makes-mechanical-keyboards-clack |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Burek |first1=John |last2=Brant |first2=Tom |last3=Wilson |first3=Jeffrey L. |title=The Best Keyboards for 2021 |url=https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-keyboards |website=PC Mag |access-date=11 September 2021 |date=19 July 2021 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911081252/https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-keyboards |url-status=live }}</ref>

Keyboards which utilize this technology are commonly referred to as "mechanical keyboards", but there is not a universally agreed-upon clear-cut definition for this term.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shark |first=Admiral |date=30 May 2021 |title=The problems with the term 'mechanical keyboard' |url=https://sharktastica.co.uk/gists/mech_term_bad |access-date=2023-12-08 |website=Admiral Shark's Keyboards |language=English}}</ref>

==== Hot-swappable keyboard ====
[[Hot swapping|Hot-swappable]] keyboards are keyboards in which switches can be pulled out and replaced without requiring the typical [[soldering|solder]] connection.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Schoon |first1=Eric |title=The 8 Best Hop Swappable Mechanical Keyboards |url=https://www.reviewgeek.com/34512/the-4-best-hot-swappable-mechanical-keyboards/ |website=Review Geek |access-date=11 September 2021 |date=28 June 2021 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911193554/https://www.reviewgeek.com/34512/the-4-best-hot-swappable-mechanical-keyboards/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Jon |title=The Keychron Q1 Is an Enthusiast-Quality Keyboard Right Out of the Box |url=https://www.theverge.com/22662686/keychron-q1-review-price-mechanical-keyboard-features |website=The Verge |access-date=11 September 2021 |date=9 September 2021 |archive-date=11 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911081024/https://www.theverge.com/22662686/keychron-q1-review-price-mechanical-keyboard-features |url-status=live }}</ref> Instead of the ''switch'' pins being directly soldered to the keyboard's [[printed circuit board|PCB]], hot-swap ''sockets'' are instead soldered on. Hot-swap sockets can allow users to change different switches out of the keyboard without having the tools or knowledge required to solder.