# scroll wheel

> component of a computer mouse used to scroll up and down

**Wikidata**: [Q1091813](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1091813)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scroll_wheel)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/scroll-wheel

## Summary
A scroll wheel is a component of a computer mouse used to scroll up and down. It is associated with the scrolling function and is commonly referred to as a “mouse wheel.”

## Key Facts
- A scroll wheel is a component of a computer mouse used to scroll up and down.  
- Primary use: scrolling.  
- Classification: subclass of an input device (a peripheral that provides data and signals to an information processing system).  
- Part of: computer mouse (a hand-held device used to move a pointer on a computer display).  
- Often includes (has part): a middle mouse button (often).  
- Discoverer or inventor (as referenced): Jack J. McCauley.  
- Common aliases include: mouse wheel, scrollwheel, computer mouse wheel, Mausrolle, Mausrad, Scrollrad, トラックホイール, マウスホイール, 滑鼠滾輪, 마우스 휠.  
- Wikipedia title: “Scroll wheel”; available in multiple languages including en, de, fr, es, ja, ko, zh, and zh_yue.  
- Stack Overflow tag associated with the concept: https://stackoverflow.com/tags/wheel.  

## FAQs
### Q: What does a scroll wheel do on a mouse?
A: A scroll wheel is used for scrolling. In common usage, it scrolls up and down.

### Q: Is a scroll wheel the same as a mouse wheel?
A: Yes. “Mouse wheel” and “scroll wheel” are listed aliases for the same component.

### Q: Is the scroll wheel part of the mouse or a separate device?
A: It is part of a computer mouse. It is described as a mouse component used for scrolling.

### Q: Does a scroll wheel also act as a button?
A: Often, the scroll wheel assembly includes a middle mouse button. (The “middle mouse button” is listed as a part that is often present.)

## Why It Matters
The scroll wheel matters because it provides a dedicated, simple control for scrolling—an essential interaction in many computer interfaces. As a component of the computer mouse, it extends the mouse beyond pointer movement by enabling rapid navigation through content in a vertical direction (up and down) using a compact physical mechanism. This makes routine tasks—like moving through documents, lists, and pages—more efficient without requiring separate on-screen controls. The scroll wheel is also closely associated with the “middle mouse button” function, which is often integrated into the wheel mechanism, adding another input action without increasing the size or complexity of the mouse. As an input-device component, it represents a widely recognized and standardized way to translate small finger movements into scrolling behavior, and it is referenced across technical communities (for example, via a dedicated Stack Overflow tag for “wheel”).

## Notable For
- Being specifically defined as a computer mouse component used to scroll up and down.  
- Serving the scrolling use-case as its primary function.  
- Often incorporating a middle mouse button as part of the wheel mechanism.  
- Being attributed (in referenced sources) to inventor Jack J. McCauley.  
- Having broad multilingual naming/alias coverage (e.g., English, German, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese aliases listed).  

## Body
### Definition and Function
- A scroll wheel is a component of a computer mouse.
- It is used to scroll up and down.
- Its stated use is scrolling.

### Classification and Relationships
- Subclass of: input device (a peripheral that provides data and signals to an information processing system).
- Part of: computer mouse (a hand-held device used to move a pointer on a computer display).

### Common Names (Aliases)
The scroll wheel is also known as:
- mouse wheel; scrollwheel; computer mouse wheel
- Mausrolle; Mausrad; Scrollrad
- トラックホイール; マウスホイール
- 滑鼠滾輪
- 마우스 휠

### Associated Components
- Has part(s): middle mouse button (often).

### Attribution
- Discoverer or inventor (as referenced): Jack J. McCauley.

### Identifiers and References
- Freebase ID: /m/04w23g
- NamuWiki ID: 스크롤 휠
- Wikipedia title: Scroll wheel
- Stack Overflow tag: https://stackoverflow.com/tags/wheel
- Example image URL (Wikimedia Commons file path): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/3-Tasten-Maus_Microsoft.jpg

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Scroll wheel",
  "description": "Component of a computer mouse used to scroll up and down.",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207708",
    "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scroll_wheel"
  ],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Device"
}

## References

1. [PC Mouse Wheel Inventor on Its Original Purpose. IGN. 2016](http://www.ign.com/articles/2016/12/01/pc-mouse-wheel-inventor-on-its-original-purpose-a-ign-unfiltered)