By Amy Hofmockel, Creative Technology Librarian
Using a mouse seems simple, but did you know there are shortcuts built into many computer mice? In this post, you’ll discover the different parts of the mouse, how to use the mouse, and what the mouse can do.
How to hold the mouse
Just like with any other tool, a better grip will help you control the mouse more precisely. See the example pictured here and follow the steps below:
- Start by placing your hand over the mouse so that the center of your palm is hovering over the center of the mouse.
- Now place your pointer finger on the left button and your middle finger on the right button. You should be able to rest your fingers lightly on the buttons without actually clicking them. (If you are left-handed, you will mirror the grip by placing your pointer finger on the right button and your middle finger on the left button.)
- Use your thumb on one side of the mouse and your ring and pinky fingers on the other to grip. If you were to lift the mouse off the desk, your thumb, ring finger, and pinky finger would bear all the weight. When clicking, you will hold the mouse in place with your thumb, ring, and pinky fingers so that it does not move while you click.
Anatomy of a computer mouse
What do the buttons do? Let’s find out!
Left-click button
This is the most used button on the mouse, located on the left side of the mouse. It is considered the “action” button and is what you will use to click on most folders, icons, and links. When someone says you should click something, they usually mean a single left click.
Right-click button
This button is often used to gain context or extra information. When you right-click on something, you will usually get a menu or list of actions to choose from. This is called a context menu.
Scroll wheel & middle button
The scroll wheel is the bump between the left and right mouse buttons. You can use your index finger to roll it forward or backward.
- When you are browsing the internet or reading a document or PDF, using the scroll wheel will move the page up or down, so that you can read more of the page.
- When you use it on a map or full-screen image, it will zoom in or out.
- The scroll wheel also acts as a third button if you press directly down without scrolling, which usually activates a button-free type of scrolling that reacts to the direction you move the cursor on the screen.
- Different software or applications may have different uses for the scroll wheel and middle button. Experiment and see what this versatile button does in different situations!
Laser
The laser on the bottom of the mouse is what lets it “see” where it is, which it can then communicate to the computer screen. If the laser doesn’t have a smooth, matte (non-shiny) surface to track over, it can prevent the mouse from working properly.
Cursor
While the cursor is not a physical part of the mouse, it is still a very important part of its anatomy. The cursor is the little arrow, hand, or other small shape that you control on the computer screen when using the mouse.
It usually looks like an arrow or a hand with a finger pointing, but some programs may have custom shapes. If the cursor is moving too fast or slow for you, you can adjust the sensitivity in your computer’s control panel or settings.
Need help learning how to adjust your settings? Request a one-on-one Learning Lab with a library staff member.
Types of actions with a mouse
How do you use the mouse to navigate on your screen? Here’s what a mouse can do:
Click
A click is a single, quick press of the left mouse button. It is used to open a hyperlink, select a menu option, place your cursor where you want it in word processing software, select a form area to fill, or activate a program from the start menu.
Double click
A double click is two quick presses of the left mouse button in a row. It is similar to the single click in that it is often used to do an action. As a general rule of thumb, if a single click does not open the program you wanted to use, try a double click instead.
Double-clicking is also useful in word processing because double-clicking the middle of a word will highlight the entire word (which can be useful if you want to copy the text using a keyboard shortcut).
Triple click
A triple click is three quick presses of the left mouse button in a row. Like the click and double click, a triple click is typically used to perform an action. However, triple-clicking is only rarely used.
In most word processing programs (like Microsoft Word) and web browsers (including Chrome, Safari, Firefox, and more), triple-clicking within a section of text will select the entire line or paragraph of text.
Click & drag
Clicking and dragging is when you use the left mouse button to click and then hold the button down (instead of releasing the button right away) on something like a file or some text. You can then drag the file to a new location (like from your desktop to the recycle/trash bin or from one folder to another folder) while still holding the button, and then let go when you have positioned the file where you want it.
When you click and drag on text, you can highlight a section and then use keyboard shortcuts to copy it for use elsewhere!
Right click
The right click is a single, quick press of the right mouse button. It is a context-based button and usually gives a menu of options for whatever your cursor was touching at the time. If you are having trouble opening a program, try right-clicking the icon, then using a single left click to select “open” on the context menu.
To dismiss a right-click menu (if it is in the way of text you want to read, for instance), do a regular left click in any blank space that is not the menu area and not an icon or link.
Fun fact: Games like Solitaire and Minesweeper were originally intended to help new users become comfortable with the graphical interface, the mouse, and its abilities.
- Solitaire teaches the click and drag and double-click functions (dragging a card to a stack and double-clicking to send a card automatically to a stack).
- Minesweeper teaches single clicks and precise positioning of the cursor (to clear an area of unknown boxes), as well as right-clicking (to flag possible mines!). If you find yourself struggling to use the mouse sometimes, taking time to play these games will help you master the tool.
- If you want more practice using the mouse, try practicing with Mousercise.
You can use keyboard shortcuts in tandem with the mouse to quickly and confidently navigate the computer. Try these copy, cut, and paste shortcuts »
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About Amy
Amy is a creative technology librarian who always looks for ways to create those “ah-ha!” moments for digital learners. She enjoys writing, gadgets, and baking.
