What Is a Computer Mouse?

 The mouse, sometimes called a pointer, is a hand-operated input device used to manipulate objects on a computer screen.

Whether it uses a laser or ball, or the mouse is wired or wireless, a movement detected from the mouse sends instructions to the computer to move the cursor on the screen to interact with files, windows, and other software elements.

http://forum2.extremum.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33886&sid=612c27b2a09bc9d77e6d775c98490801&start=10

http://forum2.extremum.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9608&start=10

http://forum2.extremum.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=114360&start=10

http://jl.kaoyanzhi.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=7970197&extra=page%3D1&page=2

http://www.duomaomao.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=865022&extra=&page=2

http://www.duomaomao.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=199158&extra=&page=2

http://www.duomaomao.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=199158&extra=&page=3

http://jn.51huli.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=17061&extra=&page=2

http://jn.51huli.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=16940&extra=&page=2

http://jn.51huli.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=16940&extra=&page=3

https://recruit.weijurenli.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=452260&extra=&page=2

https://recruit.weijurenli.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=452260&extra=&page=3

https://recruit.weijurenli.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=452260&extra=&page=4

Even though the mouse is a peripheral device that sits outside the main computer housing, it's an essential piece of computer hardware in most systems, at least non-touch ones.

The Best Wireless Mice of 2023

Mouse Physical Description

Computer mice come in many shapes and sizes, but are all designed to fit either the left or right hand, and be used on a flat surface.

The standard mouse has two buttons toward the front (to left-click and right-click) and a scroll wheel in the center (to quickly move the screen up and down). However, a computer mouse can have anywhere from one to several more buttons to provide a wide variety of other functions (like the 12-button Razer Naga Chroma MMO gaming mouse).

While older mice use a small ball on the bottom to control the cursor, newer ones use a laser. Some computer mice instead have a large ball on the top so that instead of moving the mouse across a surface to interact with the computer, the user keeps the mouse stationary and instead moves the ball with a finger. The Logitech M570 is one example of this type of mouse.

https://fofabaike.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=700&extra=&page=2

https://fofabaike.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1369&extra=&page=2

https://fofabaike.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1369&extra=&page=3

http://ne12.com/ashaland/viewtopic.php?t=166729&start=10

http://ne12.com/ashaland/viewtopic.php?t=145654&start=10

http://ne12.com/ashaland/viewtopic.php?t=156636&start=10

https://adaptation-sterea.envirometrics.gr/index.php?topic=46091.15

http://www.detimgn.iboards.ru/viewtopic.php?f=96&t=27377&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=20

http://forumsevengroup.free.fr/viewtopic.php?t=251&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

http://forumsevengroup.free.fr/viewtopic.php?t=432&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

http://marcelli.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?t=583&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

http://marcelli.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?t=479&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15

https://viewtion.co.kr/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=2467

http://eldoradofus.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=10600

http://eldoradofus.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=22962

http://xavierdeschamps.free.fr/Escalade/Forum_escalade/viewtopic.php?pid=39687

http://forum2.extremum.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=114360

http://forum2.extremum.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=9608

http://forum2.extremum.org/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33886

http://jl.kaoyanzhi.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=7970197&extra=page%3D1

There are also mice made for special uses, such as travel mice, which are smaller than a typical mouse and often have a retractable cord. Another type is the ergonomic mouse that has a very different shape than a standard mouse to help prevent hand strain.

As you can see, mice come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and colors:

Photo of a Microsoft Wireless Mobile Mouse 1850

Microsoft

VicTsing MM057 Mouse, black with white logo, CPI button and scroll wheel 

Jelly Comb 2.4G Slim Wireless Mouse with gold trim 

HAVIT HV-MS672 3200DPI Wired Mouse, black with aqua-colored lightning detail, DPI button and scroll wheel 

Anker AK-UBA 2.4G Wireless Vertical Ergonomic Optical Mouse 

PICTEK Gaming Mouse, black, with electric blue light-up logo and scroll wheel

No matter what the type, all mice communicate with the computer either wirelessly or via a physical, wired connection.

If wireless, the mouse uses either RF communication or Bluetooth. An RF-based wireless mouse will require a receiver that will physically connect to the computer. A Bluetooth wireless mouse connects via the computer's Bluetooth hardware. See How to Install a Wireless Keyboard and Mouse for a short look at how setup works.

http://jl.kaoyanzhi.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=5988308

http://www.duomaomao.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=865022

http://www.duomaomao.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=199158

http://jn.51huli.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=17061

http://jn.51huli.net/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=16940

https://recruit.weijurenli.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=452260

https://fofabaike.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=700

https://fofabaike.com/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=1369

https://hytalemarket.gg/threads/the-purpose-of-this-site.10/

http://www.greenbr21.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=data_br21&wr_id=35&page=4&page=4

http://ne12.com/ashaland/viewtopic.php?t=166729

http://ne12.com/ashaland/viewtopic.php?t=145654

http://ne12.com/ashaland/viewtopic.php?t=156636

https://adaptation-sterea.envirometrics.gr/index.php?topic=46091.0

If wired, mice connect to the computer via USB using a Type-A connector. Older mice connect via PS/2 ports. Either way, it's usually a direct connection to the motherboard.

Drivers for a Computer Mouse

Like any piece of hardware, a computer mouse works with a computer only if the proper device driver is installed. A basic mouse will work right out of the box because the operating system likely already has the driver ready for installation, but special software is needed for a more advanced mouse that has more functions.

My Mouse Won't Work! How Do I Fix It?

The advanced mouse might work just fine as a regular mouse, but it's likely that the extra buttons won't function until the right driver is installed.

The best way to install a missing mouse driver is through the manufacturer's website. Logitech and Microsoft are the most popular manufacturers of mice, but you'll see them from other hardware makers as well. See How to Update Drivers in Windows for instructions on manually installing these types of drivers in Windows.

However, one of the easiest ways to install drivers is to use a free driver updater tool. If you go this route, just be sure the mouse is plugged in when you start the driver scan.

Some drivers can be downloaded through Windows Update, so that's another option if you still can't seem to find the right one.

More Information on the Computer Mouse

A mouse is supported only on devices that have a graphical user interface. This is why you must use your keyboard when working with text-only tools, like many programs that run from a disc before the operating system starts—these bootable antivirus programs are one example.

https://adaptation-sterea.envirometrics.gr/index.php?topic=38313.0

https://www.wolala.love/thread-3975-1-1.html

http://www.yypf.com/showthread.php?tid=5738

https://test.tcz.x10.mx/mybb/showthread.php?tid=76515

http://www.detimgn.iboards.ru/viewtopic.php?f=96&t=27377

http://detimgn.iboards.ru/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=9545

http://detimgn.iboards.ru/viewtopic.php?t=15677

http://forumsevengroup.free.fr/viewtopic.php?p=306

http://forumsevengroup.free.fr/viewtopic.php?p=487

http://marcelli.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?p=480

http://marcelli.free.fr/forum/viewtopic.php?p=584

https://expectingtheunexpected.com/showthread.php?tid=2330

http://mystrotain.free.fr/forum/showthread.php?tid=51315

https://www.gamingfraternity.com/showthread.php?tid=12674

While laptops, touch-screen phones/tablets, and other similar devices don't require a mouse, they all use the same concept to communicate with the device. That is, a stylus, trackpad, or your own finger is used in place of the traditional computer mouse.

However, most of those devices support using a mouse as an optional attachment if you'd prefer to use one anyway. When you do that, you sometimes have the option to turn off the built-in mouse so you can use the external one only—e.g., you can disable the touchpad in Windows 11.

Some computer mice power down after a certain period of inactivity to save on battery life, while others that require a lot of power are wired-only to favor performance over the convenience of being wireless.

The mouse was originally referred to as an "X-Y position indicator for a display system" and was nicknamed a "mouse" because of the tail-like cord that came out the end of it. It was invented by Douglas Engelbart in 1964.

Prior to the invention of the mouse, computer users had to enter text-based commands to do even the simplest of tasks, like moving through directories and opening files/folders.