# push-button

> simple mechanism with an area that can be temporarily pushed down to control a device

**Wikidata**: [Q870870](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q870870)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push-button)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/push-button

## Summary
A push-button is a simple mechanism used to control a device. It features a surface that can be temporarily pushed down to act as a physical switch, often to control the flow of current in an electrical circuit. As a fundamental type of input device, it provides a direct and tactile way for users to send a signal or command to a system.

## Key Facts
- **Primary Use:** Its main function is to provide control over a device or system.
- **Classification:** It is classified as a mechanical device, a physical switch, a control device, and an input device.
- **Mechanism:** A push-button often physically interacts with an electrical circuit, acting as a switch to open or close it.
- **Aliases:** The entity is also commonly known as "button," "pushbutton," and "key." In Spanish, it is referred to as "pulsador" or "botón."
- **Distinctions:** It is distinct from a non-physical "graphical button" found in software interfaces.
- **Sub-types:** It is a parent class for a wide variety of specialized buttons, including power buttons, shutter buttons, reset buttons, and placebo buttons.
- **Prevalence:** The English Wikipedia article for "Push-button" has a sitelink count of 26, indicating its notability across various language editions.

## FAQs
### Q: What is the basic function of a push-button?
A: The basic function of a push-button is to control a device through a simple physical action. When pressed, it typically completes or breaks an electrical circuit, sending a signal to the device it is connected to.

### Q: Are all push-buttons physical objects?
A: Yes, a push-button is a physical, mechanical device. This distinguishes it from a "graphical button," which is a non-physical element in a software user interface that is clicked with a mouse or tapped on a screen.

### Q: What are some common examples of push-buttons?
A: Common examples are found on countless devices, including power buttons on computers, shutter buttons on cameras, volume buttons on phones, request-to-stop buttons on buses, and buttons on video game controllers.

### Q: What is a placebo button?
A: A placebo button is a type of push-button that appears to have a function but has no actual physical effect when pressed. Pedestrian crossing buttons in some automated traffic systems are a well-known example.

## Why It Matters
The push-button is significant because it represents one of the most fundamental and intuitive interfaces between humans and machines. Its simplicity—a single, direct action causing a specific result—makes it universally understandable, requiring no special training or language. This has allowed for its integration into a virtually limitless range of technologies, from simple doorbells to complex computer keyboards and industrial control panels.

As a foundational component of interaction design, the push-button solved the basic problem of giving users a reliable and tactile means of input. It provides immediate physical feedback that software interfaces often lack. The push-button's role as a primary input device has been crucial in the development of consumer electronics, computing, and automated systems, making technology more accessible and easier to operate for the general public. Its continued prevalence, even in an age of touchscreens and voice commands, speaks to its enduring effectiveness as a simple, durable, and unambiguous control mechanism.

## Notable For
- **Tactile Simplicity:** Its defining characteristic is the simple, temporary "push" action that activates a function, making it a universally understood and intuitive control mechanism.
- **Mechanical Nature:** As a physical, mechanical device, it provides tactile feedback and is fundamentally different from software-based graphical buttons.
- **Broad Superclass:** It serves as a parent category for a vast and diverse array of specialized buttons, including power buttons, mute buttons, eject buttons, and even non-functional placebo buttons.
- **Electrical Switching:** A primary and common function is to act as a physical switch that directly controls the flow of current within an electrical circuit.

## Body
### ### Classification and Hierarchy
A push-button is a multi-faceted component with a clear place in device hierarchies. It is formally classified as a subclass of several broader concepts:
-   Mechanical device
-   Button
-   Control device
-   Physical switch
-   Input device

It also serves as a parent class or superclass for a wide range of more specific button types.

### ### Types of Push-Buttons
The simple push-button concept has been adapted into numerous specialized forms for different applications:

-   **Computing and Gaming:** `computer key`, `mouse button`, `power button`, `reset button`, `turbo button`, `shoulder button`, `face button`, `directional buttons`, `trigger buttons`, `back buttons`, `clickable analog stick`.
-   **Consumer Electronics:** `shutter button` (cameras), `eject button` (media players), `volume buttons`, `mute button`, `WPS button` (routers), `dedicated streaming service button` (remotes).
-   **Public and Infrastructure:** `pedestrian crossing button`, `request stop push button` (public transit), `door opener`.
-   **Specialized and Abstract Types:** `electric push-button` (specifically for electrical circuits), `soft key` (a button with a programmable function), and `placebo button` (a button with no actual effect).

### ### Related and Distinct Concepts
It is important to distinguish the push-button from related terms:
-   **Graphical Button:** A push-button is a physical object, whereas a graphical button is a software element on a screen.
-   **Electric Push-Button:** While many push-buttons are electric, "electric push-button" is a more specific subclass that explicitly refers to a button controlling current in a circuit.
-   **Control Key:** A control key on a keyboard is a related input device, but its primary function is to modify the action of other keys rather than initiating a standalone command.
-   **Rotary Dial / Jog:** These are input devices for control, but they operate via rotation rather than a linear push.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "push-button",
  "description": "A push-button is a simple mechanism with an area that can be temporarily pushed down to control a device.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Push-button"
  ],
  "image": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Pneumatic_pushbutton_timer_switch.jpg",
  "alternateName": [
    "button",
    "push button",
    "pushbutton",
    "key",
    "pulsador",
    "botón",
    "boton",
    "botones",
    "bouton-poussoir",
    "bouton poussoir"
  ]
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. GF WordNet