Glossary

Low-profile mechanical keyboard

A mechanical keyboard with shorter switches and keycaps, so it sits much closer to the desk.

Low-profile switches are shorter than standard ones and travel less, which gives a flatter, laptop-like feel while keeping real mechanical switches.

Where you will find it

2.4G receiverA small USB dongle that links a wireless keyboard or mouse to a computer over the 2.4 GHz radio band.
75% layoutA compact layout between 60% and TKL that squeezes the arrows and a short column of navigation keys against the main block.
Gasket mountA build where the switch plate floats on soft gaskets inside the case instead of being screwed to it.
Hot-swappable switchesSwitches that pull out of the board and can be replaced without soldering.
Polling rateHow often a keyboard or mouse reports to the computer each second, measured in hertz (Hz).
POM stemA switch stem made of POM (polyoxymethylene), a stiff, low-friction plastic.
QMK and VIAQMK is open-source keyboard firmware; VIA is an app that remaps a QMK keyboard without rebuilding the firmware.
TKL (tenkeyless)A keyboard layout that keeps the full main block, arrows and navigation keys but drops the number pad.