Keyboard switches are described with a vocabulary that sounds technical and mostly is, and separating the measurable properties from the marketing makes choosing considerably easier.
The measurable properties
Actuation force, in grams, describing how hard you must press before the keypress registers.
Actuation distance, how far the key travels before registering.
Total travel, how far it moves in total.
And the force curve, describing how resistance changes through the press, which is what produces the feel people describe.
The three families
Linear switches have smooth consistent resistance throughout, with no feedback at the actuation point.
Tactile switches include a bump at or near actuation, which can be felt.
Clicky switches add an audible click alongside the tactile bump.
Which are genuinely different experiences, and the preference between them is entirely subjective.
The gaming claim
Linear switches are marketed for gaming on the reasoning that the absence of a tactile bump allows faster repeated presses.
The mechanical difference is real and very small.
Evidence that it affects outcomes is thin, and the effect is well below the variation between individuals.
Which does not make linear switches a bad choice — many people prefer them — and the performance framing is marketing rather than measurement.
Actuation distance
Shorter actuation registers sooner, which is the more plausible performance claim.
Switches with adjustable actuation exist, using magnetic sensing rather than mechanical contact, allowing the trigger point to be set in software.
Which enables genuinely useful features — different actuation points for different keys, and rapid trigger behaviour where a key resets as soon as it moves upward.
That last is measurably useful for rapid repeated inputs and is the clearest actual performance feature in the category.
Polling and matrix scanning
How frequently the keyboard reports state, which is analogous to mouse polling rate.
Higher rates reduce the average delay before an input is noticed, with diminishing returns below other delays in the chain.
Key rollover — how many simultaneous presses register correctly — matters for games requiring several keys at once, and full rollover is now standard on most mechanical boards.
What actually affects typing and play
Weight, which determines fatigue over long sessions more than any other property.
Stabiliser quality on larger keys, which is where most rattle and inconsistency originates and which is rarely specified.
Case construction and mounting, which determine sound and flex more than the switches do.
And keycap material and profile, which affect feel under the fingers substantially.
Hot-swap sockets
Allowing switches to be changed without soldering.
Which makes experimentation practical and is the single most useful feature for anyone unsure what they prefer.
It also extends the life of a board, since a failed switch can be replaced individually.
The reasonable approach
Try switches before committing, using a tester or a friend's keyboard, since descriptions convey very little.
Consider whether you share a space, since clicky switches are genuinely disruptive to others.
And treat the performance claims as secondary to comfort, because the hours spent typing on it vastly exceed the moments where actuation distance could conceivably matter.
Lubrication and modification
A substantial hobbyist practice with real effects.
Applying lubricant to switch housings and stems reduces friction and scratchiness, changing both feel and sound noticeably.
Which is time-consuming, requiring disassembly of each switch, and it is why pre-lubricated switches command a premium.
Stabiliser tuning on larger keys addresses rattle and is generally the modification with the largest perceptible effect per unit of effort.
Sound
Determined more by the case, plate, mounting style and internal foam than by the switches.
Which is why identical switches sound entirely different in different boards, and why the sound tests people compare are testing the whole assembly.
Gasket mounting, where the plate is isolated from the case by compliant material, produces a softer sound and more flex, and it has become common.
Durability
Switch lifetime is rated in keystrokes, generally in the tens of millions, which exceeds most users' requirements substantially.
Failure is usually contamination or contact wear on individual switches rather than general degradation, which is why hot-swap boards are practically valuable.
Layout and size
The decision with the largest practical effect and least discussion.
Smaller layouts free desk space, which allows a lower mouse position and a more open shoulder angle.
Which matters for comfort over long sessions more than any switch characteristic.
The cost is that removed keys must be accessed through layers, which requires learning and works well once learned.
Wireless
Now viable for gaming with proprietary low-latency connections, while standard wireless protocols add more delay.
Battery life varies enormously with backlighting, which is the main consumer.
Firmware
Open firmware allows remapping, layers and macros stored on the board itself rather than requiring software on the host.
Which means the configuration travels with the keyboard and works without any driver, and it is a genuine advantage over software-dependent alternatives.