Membrane Keyboard: Types, Terminology and Comparisons

What are Membrane Keyboards and Their Functionality

Membrane keyboards, also referred to as membrane switch keyboards, consist of layers of flexible materials that make up the keys. These layers act as mechanical switches that control electrical circuits to create signals and perform tasks. Each switch on the keyboard controls an electrical circuit, which is always in the off position until the key is pressed.

Membrane switch terminology is often prevalent in devices and home appliances. Because of their robust functionality and malleable feel, virtually any shape can be created for a membrane switch.

They are used for entering data in all types of industries and both commercial and residential applications, as well as used for input commands or robotics and CNC machining. In the computer realm, keyboards are used to facilitate text typing or gaming.

The keyboard is made up of many layers. The top layer can be referred to as the key or the functional layer, which is where the user interacts; it is the face of the keyboard, and the user interacts with it in accordance with the materials used (plastic and rubber).

Below the face the keyboard pads that provide pressure together with the flexible membrane paths. Below the pads is a layer called the spacer, keeping the pressure pad separate from the base layer unless a key is pressed. The last layer has paths of conductive material connected to the base layer circuit.

When a key is activated, conductive paths below the key meet the second path connected to the keyboard circuitry. The keyboard circuit is composed of different switches that correspond to the keys.

As the phase interconnects, it closes the switch and allows the electric current to flow, sending a signal to the device’s processor. The switch is typically open, with no pressure applied until the key is pressed.

These types of keyboards can be built into panels used in the industry to control machines, installed in all types of medical devices, consumer electronics, or phones, and computers, used to enter data in point-of-sale terminals, and much more.

Membrane keyboards can be specifically designed to custom to limitations of a real keyboard like QWERTY keyboard. Membrane layouts take device into user consideration which generally improves user involvement with the device.

Additionally, membrane keyboards are generally lighter and more transportable than key-ca sheet keyboards which provide spring loaded switches. In the next sections, we will compare keyboard types and outline some of the advantages of membrane keyboards.

What are the types of membrane keyboards?

Membrane keyboards are an important input device both in commercial applications and industrial control panels; they have a low form factor and a wide variety of user interfaces.

The physical construction has many layers of electrically activated items, but the two most standard styles of membranes are illustrated by flat membrane switches and dome switches.

Flat membrane switches have a pressure pad with a barrier made from the non-conductive material on the pressure pad to tactile feedback. The flat membrane can be used in applications where quiet action and moisture resistance are needed.

Dome switches have a dome printed with the shape of icons or letters and provide a tactile feel when pressed. This tactile feel is closest to the mechanical feel of traditional keyboard switches, but it is also a silent approach.

Membrane keyboards operate based on how they are constructed as layers. When a key is released, there is a non-conductive gap between conductive traces on the top layer and bottom layer, so there is no flowing electrical current through the keys of the keyboard.

When the key is pressed, the membrane collapses, and the conductive traces touch, completing the electrical circuit—this point is when the device registered a keystroke.

The basic circuit structure is one of the reasons membrane keyboards are proven to be reliable and exceptionally resistant to environmental contaminants, this is why a wide variety of devices include these keyboards, including medical devices, industrial machines, consumer appliances, etc.

What users typically identify as an issue or weakness is the feedback. Without any feedback, membrane keyboards can be silent; this means there could be accidental keypresses, or not knowing if a commanded keypress was provided.

For this reason, many new designs of membrane keyboards or membrane keypads have additional feedback options; for instance, a beep, LED light indication, tactile click, haptic vibration, or an on-screen notification.

These additional feedbacks improve user experience, accuracy, and reduce errors in demanding applications medical devices, ATMs, and consumer electronics.

Membrane Switch Keyboard

The membrane switch keyboard is a recognized subclass of membrane technology, offered for reliability, affordability, and ease of use.

The membrane switch consists of flexible yet rugged polyester and polycarbonate materials with legends and graphics applied to the surface for easily identifiable custom labels.

The membrane switch keyboards functionality is still primarily based on open and closed electrical circuits through the use of layered flexible sheets.

When a user presses a key, it momentarily completes the circuit, quickly capturing the stroke and reducing inherent contact bounce problems found in older mechanical contacts.

Membrane keyboards are particularly prevalent as membrane keypads on consumer products in the home that most people take for granted, such as washing machines, microwaves, air conditioning units, remote controls, smart home panels, etc. 

In these applications with hardware designs required to combat moisture and dust ingress, it is no surprise that low-cost, reliable, and functional equipment with an effective user interface is a popular choice. 

Membrane keypads are also commonly found in POS systems, kiosks, photocopying machines, industrial HMI panels, medical devices, automotive consoles, vending machines, printers, and telecommunications equipment. 

Therefore, membrane keyboard or keypad types of products form a part of both the consumer and industrial occupational work environment. Membrane keyboards are prevalent and ubiquitous.

The essential parts of a membrane switch keyboard include several layers, all made to tolerances for precision engineering, each with a specific purpose for reliability over time in high-use environments:

• Graphic Overlay: The topmost layer of a membrane keypad is intended to be the interface visible to the user. The graphic overlay is coated with durable, UV-resistant graphic inks designed to minimize fading. The graphic overlay is made from flexible polyester, polycarbonate for durability and flexibility, and may have custom icons, branding, or openings for backlight as a window for various controls on the panel.
• Domes: Domes are used in tactile membrane keypads to give the user a physical response or “snap” when the key is pressed. Most consumer products will use plastic (polyester or polycarbonate) domes. Metal domes are designed for longer life or higher precision. The size of the domes, their shape (four-legged, triangular, round, oblong) and their material affects tactility, key travel and actuation force.
• Spacer: The spacer, whose purpose, in part, is to maintain circuit separation, is also the component that defines the travel distance for each keystroke. Each spacer contains punctured holes under each keypad position, referred to as die-cut windows, that allow contact between the overlay layer and the conductive circuit layer while eliminating switches’ ability to be actuated. This allows each keystroke to be registered reliably.
• Circuit Layer: The circuit layer forms, often by screen-printing (with silver- or carbon- or copper-based conductive inks) or photochemical etching, the functional heart of the device. While many designs employ the circuit layer as the functional substructure of the design, some may also point to spread printed circuit board (PCBs) as a single use with clip. More advanced designs may leverage printed circuit boards (PCBs) to allow the complexity of a circuit to facilitate new or more powerful designs for electrical functionality (double or multi-layered circuits may be embedded in the design to allow for more functionality, such as multiple zones of lighting or sensors).
• Circuit Terminal: A flat ribbon cable or flexible tail connects the membrane keypad to the main controller circuit, enabling rapid and reliable integration with embedded systems, PLCs, microcontrollers, or PCBs.
• Top Layer: This layer presents the input characters or symbols to users and typically represents a specific case from the intended use (medical diagnostic panels, manufacturing controls, or commercial displays). The conductive strips on the back ensure consistent signal transfer regardless of the signals output when pressing each key.
• Bottom Layer: The bottom conductive layer closes the electrical circuit. The bottom conductive layer must be designed to ensure sensitivity, durability, and in general robustness of the keyboard against environmental impacts.

Membrane switch keyboards also offer important advantages like spill resistance, antimicrobial skin options, low-profile designs, EMI shielding capabilities, and custom backlighting options.

Their basic construction allows for easily made prototypes and adjustments to designs, which are very beneficial to product designers and their OEMs when they need reliability, control of costs, and adaptability. With light touch, operation is easy, which improves ergonomics.

For applications where operator safety, input of data, or both, are critical, this same keypad technology has feedback built in, such as lights, digs, or sound to notify the user of each command input on devices such as hospital equipment, clean room controls, or rugged mobile devices.

Full Travel Membrane Keyboards

Full travel membrane keyboards are designed to be a more affordable replacement for mechanical keyboards, specifically for consumers that are mostly desktop users or office-based workers.

In a full travel membrane keyboard, each key is molded as part of a single rubber or plastic sheet covering the matrix of the electrical switches on the underside.

When a key is pressed, it pushes a plunger mechanism that flexes the membrane downwards, closing electrical contact with the bottom circuit layer, effectively replicating the longer travel and tactile feel of mechanical keys, while using fewer mechanical parts and producing at a lower cost.

Full travel membrane keyboards create the feel of being typewriters for example, which makes them a perfect fit for office users. You’ll find these keyboards in desktop computer keyboards, point-of-sale terminals, and digital cash registers.

Many users appreciate full travel membrane keyboards because they are typically quiet, resist spills, and have longer lifespans when compared with traditional mechanical keyboards.

Although the tactile feedback is not as pronounced as with mechanical switch keyboards, the advances in shape of the rubber dome and plunger mechanisms, have improved response time for both data entry activities and gaming.

These keyboards are also less expensive, and less heavy than mechanical keyboards, making some customers feel they could use these in an enterprise environment with some assurances they would be reliable, and last without paying a premium.

Dome Switch Membrane Keyboards

Dome switch membrane keyboards, occasionally referred to as direct-switch or rubber dome keyboards, offer the advantage of silent actuation through the combination of membrane layers and mechanical dome response.

The dome is typically made from silicone rubber or thermoplastic elastomer, and when you press the key, the dome rests under the key cap.

When you press the dome, a conductive trace located at the bottom of the dome completes a circuit, providing immediate tactile and electrical feedback.

This technology marries a quiet form factor with tactile response, and is used in applications that require accurate data entry, like medical keyboards, handheld controllers, consumer electronics, POS terminals, and mobile devices.

Metal Domes

Commonly referred to as snap domes or tactile domes, metal domes are frequently made from stainless steel, and may be precision plated in gold, silver, or nickel for added corrosion protection and optimum conductivity.

Metal domes are manufactured in multiple configurations of this component (e.g., round, four-legged, triangular and oblong), allowing for extensive key layouts and operational force.

The shape and material of the dome contributes to not only the feel and actuation force but also life expectancy making metal dome switch the industry standard for rugged industrial and OEM designs.

Good venting (spacer channels, polyester fabric, or milled PCB vents) is important for performance & longevity by eliminating air entrapment and enabling consistency in activation.

Both triangular and oblong metal domes are habitual in handheld controls, compact remotes, or precision fitness electronics, preventing unintentional activation but delivering a measurable reliability in a constrained area.

Rubber Domes

These are molded of silicone rubber, with conductive carbon pills, the conductive carbon pills could be pre-integrated or applied to the switch post by conductive ink.

Rubber domes are tactile elements where contact is made to the underlying circuit when they are depressed and collapsed.

Rubber domes are generally less noisy than metal domes, making them inexpensive, splash resistant, and lightweight keyswitch experience suitable for home appliances, commercial devices, and ruggedized electronics when used in the field.

Dome switch membrane keyboards are ubiquitous in consumer electronics, medical instrumentation, calculators, computer desktop peripherals, lab testing equipment, mobile devices and gaming controllers.

Dome switch membrane keyboards provide not only the tactile benefits described, but also in tacit compliance of the limits to customization, molded actuation force, rolling (N-key) rollover for gaming and data input, and can be engineered for anti-microbial, anti-vandal or EMI-shielded from design requirement for industry specific compliance.

Scissor Switch Keyboards

Scissor switch keyboards are a more developed form of membrane keyboard, which operate faster and last longer as compared to their predecessors.

Scissor switches utilize rubber domes attached to a plastic ‘scissor’ mechanism that connects the keycap to a plunger. When a key is pressed, the scissor structure compresses the rubber dome, eliminating key travel (1-2.5 mm) and provides a crisp, stable response on every keystroke.

This design provides keys that feel responsive, are great for fast data entry or extended typing, and eliminate lateral movement of the key or ‘wobble’.

Scissor switches can have very long keystroke life (typically over 10 million cycles), which is why they are a preferred switch for notebook computers, ultrathin desktop keyboards, slim point of sale machines, and medical data terminals.

Their low profile provides a way to have thinner and even lighter keyboards, which is ideal for ergonomic arrangements in the workplace.

While scissor switches have a somewhat louder click than rubber dome or membrane switches, from the rigid scissor mechanism, the keycaps are tightly spaced preventing dust and making cleaning easier.

However, the low profile design can make deep cleaning difficult, and they can cost slightly more to replace vs. basic membrane switches.

Overall, the scissor switch mechanism provides the best combination of low profile, speed of typing, and precision, and is more often than not used in laptop computers or commercial desktop configurations.

Chiclet Keyboards

Chiclet keyboards, also commonly referred to as island-style, flat-profiles, and low-profile keyboards, are characterized by their simplified and modern aesthetic and are a common type of keyboard on most laptops and ultrabooks.

A chiclet keyboard is defined by a set of square or rectangular keys that are flat top and separated from each other. The rounded corners offer a greater chance for correct typing and less possibility of debris getting trapped between the key.

Chiclet keyboards appeared first on home computers as early as the 1980s, though the key construction and actuation method has significantly evolved since then. Today, chiclet keyboards typically utilize some form of membrane or a scissor-switch mechanism.

The membrane keyboard has a complete membrane under the keys and it provides a tangible, reliable and nearly silent key travel to withstand classroom and office use. The membranes are resistant to contaminants obstructing the inputs.

The scissor-switch keyboards are more responsive to the keystroke inputs than membrane and provide stronger resistance to contaminants getting lodged under the key.

The space in between keys provides an increased chance of avoiding the typing error, and, depending on the user, the low-profile and the reduced key travel that is incorprorated into most chiclet keyboards can typcially reduce finger fatigue during extended etiquette of typing rate, typically measured in words-per-minute.

With modern actuation methods differ and there’s typically two methods involved: The molded rubber membrane (typically silicone) is at the base of the key, with the idea being that the rubber is suddenly brought to collapse along the sides when pressure is applied and thus then creating a tactile event.

Alternatively, the key may have a conductive coating (copper) applied to the bottom of it, while when pressed, the conductive coating would bridge the trace circuit.

Recently the focus has shifted to gaming chiclet keyboards as great strides have been made to develop highly responsive keyboards with advanced anti-ghosting technology to eliminate the net effect of ghosting to the input thereby speeding up response time, and would stimulate more interest in these types of keyboard options, as gaming chiclet keyboards offer multiple colorways, improved ergonomics, and quick and easy access to macro programming for faster key combos.

In conclusion, chiclet keyboards continue to provide a balance between aesthetic considerations, portability, usability, and design, to be pleasing for typing on, as well as on modern laptops, tablets, and desktop keyboards that are compact.

While many chiclet keyboards, especially premium versions do provide integrated features, like fully customizable RGB backlighting, water resistance options, and dedicated media keys in order to improve productivity and personalization for the user.

Capacitive Keyboards

Capacitive keyboards, which utilize advanced touch sensor technology, are the next evolution in input devices from membrane switches and mechanical keypads.

These high-tech input devices collect signals based on detection of small changes in capacitance when the user’s finger approaches the keyboard or touch surface, with the output to a microcontroller occurring instantaneously.

Since no physical pressure is required for input, capacitive keyboards and capacitive touch panels are ideal for high-volume public interface, medical devices, vehicle controls, high-end appliances, industrial HMIs, and future durable consumer electronics.

Surfaces for capacitive keyboards are made from durable, non-conductive materials, such as glass, plastics, or polycarbonate, thus allowing waterproof, dustproof, and scratch-proof construction in harsh environments.

Full-color printing, multi-touch zones, gesture recognition, and backlit overlays can be produced for specific user application needs, from applications like laboratory instruments to interactive kiosks or game consoles.

There are two types of capacitive keyboards that are used in modern interface and automation systems:

• PCB Type: This implementation has capacitive touch locations directly molded into the printed circuit board, providing maximum structural integrity as well as accurate touchpoint detection. PCB type results in excellent dependability for industrial automation, control consoles, and commercial quality point-of-sale devices.
• Film Type: This implementation uses printed conductive ink below graphic overlays and connects through flexible ribbon cables to the electronics. Film layers can be made of polypropylene, Teflon, or polyester with variable thickness, shape, color and touch response. This high-insulation type performs well in applications subject to significant variations in ambient temperature, humidity, and chemical contaminants; this design freedom makes for creative merging industrial design and seamless panel construction.

The many advantages include; –

• Fast response times.
• Greater customization.
• Mostly maintenance-free.
• The ability to do gesture-based controls, or swipe commands, along with no physical keys.
• And, the ability to use with gloved hands in healthcare or industrial applications (through projective capacitance).
• Approved for style and function: The rapid types of capacitive keyboards could be used in advanced user interfaces such as automotive, aerospace, medical, industrial, and commercial display systems.

What Terms Are Used to Describe Keyboards?

The following industry-specific terms and characteristics will be important for evaluating and selecting your keyboard.

The definitions may be slightly subjective, but knowing them will make a difference in your typing experience overall as well as ergonomically.

Knowing the key features you are looking for can help you make a more informed purchase decision, whether you are looking to buy the best mechanical keyboard, a membrane switch keyboard, or an ergonomic office keyboard.

Key Travel and Actuation Point

Key travel is the distance a keyboard key moves from its resting or down position until it hits the actuation point, when the keystroke has been recognized on your computer or device. Key travel is measured in millimeters and can vary greatly when comparing keyboard types.

For example, mechanical keyboards are often measured with larger key travel distances so you can experience a different typing feel in a way that professionals and gamers cherish.

Conversely, many laptop keyboards and compact devices will eliminate key travel or use shallow or short key travel so they can be ultra-thin, which allows for faster and lighter keystrokes.

When evaluating what keyboard you want to buy, you should consider your typing preferences or habits, the frequency of use, and whether or not you experience finger fatigue or discomfort, because the length of key travel corresponds to comfort and responsiveness.

Actuation Force

Actuation force is the specific amount of pressure measured in centinewtons (cN) and gram-force (gf) that must be exerted from your finger in order to press the key all the way until the actuation point.

The actuation force needed will vary depending on the type of switches the keyboard uses, whether they be linear, tactile, or clicky mechanical switches.

Mechanical keyboards, membrane keyboards, chiclet keyboards, and scissor-switch keyboards all have their own actuation force profiles.

Low actuation force keys can help high speed typists to reduce strain, and give them the lowest typing speeds possible, while those who enjoy solid feedback from keys should try a higher actuation force.

Knowing the actuation force of the keyboard can help users who are looking for ergonomic keyboards to prevent repetitive strain injuries (RSI), enhance gaming performance, and enhance productivity for general tasks performed every day.

Tactility in Keyboards

Experiencing a significant bump or feeling something happen when typing, is called tactility – this is the immediate haptic feedback a keyboard gives you.

Tactility plays a substantial role in the assessment of mechanical keyboards, as tactile or clicky switches are designed to provide exaggerated tactile response.

More tactile response aids in typing accuracy as it lets you know the instant you have actuated a key which itself is a tactile-to-haptic transduction process that links intent with the user’s experience.

The amount of tactile feedback depends on the distance of key travel, switch mechanism design, and key cap material.

Without sufficient tactile feedback, users may press harder than appropriate, exceeding the actuation force when depressing a key which can lead to typing inefficiency or more severe incidents of finger fatigue develop in longer typing sessions.

Feedback from keyboards can take three forms: audible, tactile, and visual. These forms of feedback enhance the user experience and assist with both rapid, error-free data entry, typing, or gaming, in addition to extended typing.

• Audible feedback (sound) from the keyboard is produced by the keys of the keyboard upon pressing down on the key in a keystroke. Mechanical keyboards tend to provide audible feedback in the form of “clicky” sounds when pressed down, while membrane and scissor-switch keyboards are not designed to provide mechanical feedback and typically operate more quietly than mechanical keyboards. In the case of mobile devices like smartphones and tablets, an artificial keypad tone imitates actual typing sounds for better feedback.
• The keyboard’s switching mechanism specifies the level of audible noise. The amount of click may be extremely loud on mechanical keyboards, which may disrupt others working in a shared work area such as offices or libraries, while keyboards, like rubber dome or scissor-switch keyboards, designed for low-noise are often preferred in shared environments.
• Tactile or haptic feedback (feeling) is the tactile sensations of bumps, resistance, or vibration that occurs under the user’s fingers while pressing down on a key. There are more sophisticated keyboards that provide vibration motors, and industrial membrane keypads may incorporate pressure zones using more advanced technologies for tactile feedback and accuracy.
• Visual feedback (sight) is when you see a key move or activate an illuminated feedback, such as an LED Caps Lock indication light, an LED Num Lock status indicator, or LED power status of a device. RGB backlighting has become synonymous with gaming keyboards and provides RGB visual feedback realization for key shortcuts and activation so that typist and gamers can visually know that they engaged a key or shortcut, especially well-suited for late-night typist and gaming sessions.

Light or Soft Touch

Light or soft touch is a widely aspired to ergonomic design principle in keyboards for workplace ergonomists and experience users.

This keyboard characteristic is a function of a lower actuation force with a shorter key travel distance, allowing the user to perform soft keystrokes that reduce the risk of hand strain, especially for long periods of typing or data entry.

Soft-touch keys are very commonly found in membrane and chiclet keyboards and therefore may not just appeal to users preferring a soft typing experience, but also to those original users who might suffer from acute sensitivity in their fingers or participate in activities already causing strain in their fingers withthe potential of long-term or permanent injury risks.

However, the goal of having soft keys must be balanced with the desire to attain typing accuracy, since keyboards that require exceedingly less pressure may cause inadvertent actuation, resulting in lowered productivity and increased error rates.

Professionals considering the best ergonomic keyboard solution will ultimately consider a keyboard which is adjustable for actuation, offering users variable pressure options (e.g, “softer” key resistance) to suit their preferred typing style and applicable workflow.

When picking which keyboard is right for you, consider your primary keyboard use case (gaming, work, coding, or office tasks) and review the ergonomic criteria, feedback types, and actuation options to assess which products best match your preferences and considering potential ergonomic concerns in terms of your specific use case.

Being familiar with keyboard concepts and terminology will empower you to understand keyboard options, supported ergonomic criteria in online reviews, specifications, or user guides, so you can effectively choose the best keyboard for your particular needs/considerations and maximize your comfort and performance when typing.

How do membrane and mechanical keyboards compare?

What Are Mechanical Keyboards?

The operating principle makes mechanical keyboards an important class based on their design. Each key of a mechanical keyboard has an assembly called a switch which contains a spring, a plunger, and two metal contacts.

When pressing a key down, the plunger presses against the spring and the switch is completed when the metal contacts touch and form a complete circuit.

When releasing a key, the plunger and spring return to their original position and generally provide a tactile bump during use. There are three main types of mechanical key switch: linear, tactile, and clicky. Each key switch type will vary in terms of tactility, actuation force, and noise.

Linear switches

Linear switches create little noise and provide a smoother keystroke. The keys will move up and down with minimal resistance. This allows users to actuate the keys quickly, but they do not provide any tactile feedback.

Tactile and clicky switches provide a bumping sensation when actuated doing at or near the actuation point. Tactile switches produce moderate noise, and the clicky switches are the loudest key switch.

Below is a comparison of the two types of keyboards based on different considerations:

Noise Level

Membrane keyboards tend to be less noisy than a mechanical keyboard because membranes absorb the sound created when the keys are pressed. Generally speaking, membrane keyboards will be quieter than mechanical keyboards which click at the top of actuation. This is useful when using them in public settings or if there is a desire to minimize sound.

Cost Advantage

Membrane keyboards are a great deal cheaper than mechanical keyboards. You can get a comparable high-quality membrane keyboard for less money so buying them is more budget-friendly alternative.

Construction and Weight

Compared to mechanical keyboards, membrane keyboards can be lighter, more portable, and less bulky. Membrane keyboards tend to not have as many moving parts and have a more basic design.

They also use a silicone, rubber, or plastic membrane as their switch, Which means they can be made slightly smaller than mechanical keyboards.

This makes them a great option for people flying (or frequently on the go) with their computers. Membrane keyboards often appear more minimalistic and classic.

Wide Application Range

Membrane-style keyboards are used in a very wide range of application areas that are not computer-related. Some examples include use in appliances, telephones, and many forms of industrial, laboratory, and medical equipment.

Key Travel

Membrane keyboards and mechanical keyboards (with linear switches) require the keys to bottom out to get the keystroke to register.

Both keyboards with tactile switches (and clicky) will let a user actually actuation point before bottoming out the key so they can release their fingers from the keystroke actuation point without having to bottom out the key.

Anti-Ghosting Feature

Anti-ghosting is the ability for a keyboard to recognize multiple keystrokes pressed at the same time without losing any keystrokes, which is extremely helpful in gaming and fast typing.

N-key rollover (NKRO) is the measurement of how many keys can be pressed at the same time without losing any keystrokes.

A 6-KRO will allow you to press six keys at the same time without losing a keystroke, whereas full NKRO will allow you to press all the keys at the same time and still register all keypresses. Most mechanical keyboards will resist ghosting because of how their design works, thus using full NKRO.

Membrane keyboards tend to have less NKRO than mechanical keyboards, not because they don’t have the possibility, but because of their design and how multiple keys are struck at one time limit simultaneous keystrokes. However, with some higher end membrane keyboards, they do offer full NKRO.

Tactility Feeling

Membrane keyboards have a softer touch and have a “mushy” typing feel, therefore you receive less tactile feedback. Although, there are some decent quality membrane keyboards now that can offer tactile bumps, and even some auditory feedback, to help make it more responsive.

Mechanical keyboards, on the other hand, naturally provide more solid and tactile feedback because they are mechanical.

Cleanability and Serviceability

It can be difficult to clean and replace keycaps on membrane keyboards. If a key or component fails, there is usually no option for repairs, and the whole keyboard will need to be replaced.

Mechanical keyboards can be easy to remove keycaps to replace or clean because switchable caps are usually easy to work with, meaning damaged ones could be replaced too.

Service Life

Mechanical keyboards can last for anywhere between 20 million and 100 million keystrokes, while membrane keyboards last for about 5 to 10 million keystrokes. Membrane keyboards are still a better economical option for light to moderate use computers.

Summary

• A membrane keyboard is a keyboard technology that causes two metal contacts to touch together (close a switch) with the exertion of pressure on the pressure pad, and in doing so connects to the keyboard circuitry to register a character or command input.
• There are five types of a membrane keyboard: flat-panel membrane keyboards, full travel membrane keyboards, dome switch keyboards, scissors-switch keyboards, and chiclet keyboards.
• There are many terms to help describe and articulate keyboards including: key travel, actuation point, actuation force, tactility, noise level, and light or soft touch.
• Mechanical keyboards do have an actual switch underneath each key, or each key switch. The types of key switches in mechanical keyboards are linear, tactile, and clicky.
• Membrane keyboards are a lightweight, portable, and compact dependability. They do not make a lot of noise and typing has a light, but mushy feel. They are inexpensive and economical considering they are used for lower to medium duty applications. They are however, less tactile, NKRO, more difficult to clean and service.