The Translation: Switches are the individual plastic and metal mechanisms sitting underneath every single keycap. They determine exactly how it feels and sounds when you press a key. They come in three main flavors: Linear (smooth all the way down), Tactile (a little bump you can feel halfway down), and Clicky (loud and typewriter-like).
Use It In a Sentence: “I brought my new keyboard to the office, but my co-workers complained about my Clicky switches, so I’m swapping them out for silent Linears.”
Why You Care: The switches are the entire point of the hobby. Buying a mechanical keyboard and using bad switches is like buying a sports car with flat tires. When you see people arguing online about “Cherry MX Reds” or “Gateron Browns,” they are debating which brand and style of switch is the best.
Hobby Lingo 