Switches are the mechanisms used in keyboards, particular the mechanical keyboards. They look tall and have very great key travel, unlike the usual keyboards on laptops.

Switches are normally classified by colors, and mainly red, blue, brown, and black due to the impact of Cherry, a keyboard manufacturer.

• Red switches are comparatively quiet while having the most key travel.
• Blue ones are very clicky and loud.
• Brown switches are similar to blue switches but only that they are less clicky.
• Black switches are similar to the membrane keyboard on laptops since they are not clicky at all, less key travel, and produce very little sound, even quieter than red switches.

Other than switches of mechanical keyboards, there are other entirely different mechanisms like membrane keyboards, and optical switches.