# R2 button

> PlayStation game controller trigger button

**Wikidata**: [Q101864596](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q101864596)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/r2-button

## Summary
The R2 button is the right-hand trigger on every PlayStation game controller, used as one of the console’s two main pressure-sensitive inputs. It is classified within the “trigger buttons” group alongside the left-side L2 button.

## Key Facts
- Instance of: PlayStation game controller button (Wikidata classification)
- Part of: trigger buttons (paired with L2)
- Aliases: right 2 button, right2 button, right2, right 2, R 2, R2
- Icon file: PlayStation_4_button_R2.svg (preferred) and PlayStation_button_R2.svg on Wikimedia Commons
- Sitelink count for parent class “PlayStation game controller button”: 1

## FAQs
### Q: What does the R2 button do?
A: It is a trigger button that games map to actions such as accelerating, shooting, or performing heavy attacks. Its analog design lets it register how far it is pressed.

### Q: Is R2 the same on every PlayStation controller generation?
A: All versions keep the R2 label and trigger function, but the physical shape and travel distance evolved from the original digital shoulder button to the current curved analog trigger.

### Q: Why is R2 grouped with L2 as “trigger buttons”?
A: Sony classifies L2 and R2 together because they are the only two bottom-row shoulder inputs and share analog pressure-sensing circuitry.

## Why It Matters
The R2 button gives players fine-grained control over in-game actions. Because it is analog, developers can tie the depth of a press to variables such as vehicle speed or bow draw strength, something a simple on/off button cannot provide. Its consistent placement across every PlayStation generation means players can move from one console to the next without relearning core muscle memory, making it a quiet but critical piece of Sony’s user-experience strategy. For game designers, the trigger’s pressure range opens design space for deeper simulation and more immersive feedback, influencing everything from racing pedals to adaptive weapon mechanics.

## Notable For
- One of only two analog trigger inputs on standard PlayStation pads (with L2)
- Retains the same “R2” label across every hardware revision since the 1997 Dual Analog
- Visual icon standardized in SVG format on Wikimedia Commons for quick recognition in documentation and UI

## Body
### Classification
Wikidata lists R2 as an instance of “PlayStation game controller button” and as part of the “trigger buttons” class, confirming its role as a pressure-sensitive input distinct from face buttons.

### Labeling & Icons
Sony’s public-facing documentation and the Wikimedia file repository provide two SVG icons—one generic and one marked “PS4”—that show a right-hand trigger with the clear “R2” legend, giving developers and wiki authors a royalty-free way to depict the control.

### Naming Variants
Community and retail sources use multiple aliases: “right 2 button,” “right2,” “R 2,” and simply “R2.” All refer to the same physical button on the controller’s right rear shoulder.