Keycap
A removable cover placed over a keyboard keyswitch.
A keycap is a removable cover, made from materials like plastic or metal, that sits atop a computer keyboard's keyswitch. These covers are usually marked with letters, numbers, or symbols to show their function. In early keyboards, the keycap and keyswitch were a single piece; later, separate keycaps were introduced to make it easier to produce different keyboard layouts.
During the 1970s and 1980s, keycaps were typically made using two-shot molding, where the markings were molded directly into the plastic in a different color. This method became less common because it was expensive, especially in tooling costs, and often made keycaps that outlasted the keyboards they were on. Today, most keycaps are labeled through stamping or laser engraving, though two-shot (or "doubleshot") keycaps remain available and are valued for their durability and feel.
Replacement keycap sets are widely sold, especially for keyboards with Cherry MX-style stems. Enthusiast communities trade custom sets, and artisan keycaps—unique or small-batch pieces often made from resin or silicone—are sold individually. Keycaps come in printed and unprinted (blank) versions. While blank keycaps are said to encourage touch typing by removing visual cues, they are often chosen in the mechanical keyboard community for their look. Designs range from anime and video game themes to custom creations.
The most common plastics used are ABS, PBT, and POM. The top surface of a keycap can be cylinder-shaped (curving side to side), flat, or spherical (curving in all directions). Modern keyboards tend to favor cylindrical keycaps, though laptop keys are often flat.
Keycap materials vary by brand, offering different feels, durability, and resistance to damage. Characters are printed using pad printing, laser etching, or dye sublimation. The key profile—the shape of each row when viewed from the side—can be uniform or sculpted (varying from row to row). Common profiles include OEM, Cherry, Apple, Tai Hao, Alps, Laser, DCS, SA, SA-P, DSA, HSA, KAT, CSA, OSA, XDA, MT3, DCX, and DCL.
- Common plastics
- ABS, PBT, POM
- Printing methods
- pad printing, laser etching, dye sublimation
- Profile examples
- OEM, Cherry, Apple, Tai Hao, Alps, Laser, DCS, SA, SA-P, DSA, HSA, KAT, CSA, OSA, XDA, MT3, DCX, DCL
- Notable developer
- Signature Plastics (SA, DSA), Keyreative (KAT), Keychron (OSA), Matt3o (MT3), Drop (DCX, DCL)
Lore & Background
Typical keycaps in the 1970s and 1980s were produced using two-shot molding, with the markings molded into each keycap in a different color of plastic. This eventually fell out of favor, as it was more expensive (particularly in tooling costs), and tended to produce keycaps more durable than the equipment on which they were mounted. Modern keycaps are usually labelled by stamping or laser engraving. However, two-shot molding ('doubleshot') keycaps are still available today, known for their feel and general durability.
Keycaps can be bought in replacement sets for a keyboard. Notably, replacement sets are frequently sold for keyboards that use Cherry MX-style stems. Custom sets are bought and sold within the enthusiast communities, and artisan keycaps can be purchased individually. Artisan keycaps are unique or produced in small batches, and can feature intricate designs; they are often made with malleable materials like resin or silicone.
Keycaps are sold in printed and unprinted varieties. The unprinted or blank variety is said to promote touch typing and help build muscle memory because the user is forced to rely on motion rather than visuals. However, within the modern mechanical keyboard community, unprinted caps are typically chosen for their visual appeal. There are many designs a user may choose: from anime, bi-color and video game-based to custom-made keycaps. The top of most keycaps may be described as cylinder-shaped, flat or spherical. The modern preference is for cylinder-shaped keycaps rather than spherical ones, but laptop keys are often flat.
Reader's Guide
Keycaps are significant as the primary interface between the user and the keyboard, allowing for customization of layout, feel, and appearance. The introduction of separate keycaps from the keyswitch enabled the production of different keyboard layouts, a key development in keyboard design. The article notes that two-shot molding, once standard, fell out of favor due to cost but remains valued for durability and feel. Modern keycaps are typically labelled by stamping or laser engraving, though doubleshot caps persist. The enthusiast community drives a market for replacement sets, particularly for Cherry MX-style stems, and for artisan keycaps made from resin or silicone. Blank keycaps are noted for promoting touch typing, though they are often chosen for visual appeal. The variety of plastics (ABS, PBT, POM) and profiles (e.g., OEM, Cherry, SA, DSA) allows users to tailor typing experience and aesthetics. The article lists numerous profiles developed by companies and individuals, indicating a rich ecosystem of choices. Keycaps thus represent both functional and expressive elements of a keyboard, with a legacy of enabling personalization and specialized use.
Did You Know?
- Early keyboards had the keyswitch and keycap integrated as one unit.
- Two-shot molding keycaps are known for their feel and general durability.
- Blank keycaps are said to promote touch typing by forcing reliance on motion rather than visuals.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is a keycap?
A keycap is the removable top piece that sits on top of a keyboard's keyswitch, usually bearing a letter, number, or symbol to indicate its function. It is the surface your fingers actually press when typing.
What materials are keycaps typically made from?
The most widely used plastics are ABS, PBT, and POM, each offering a different balance of durability and tactile feel. Metal keycaps also exist as a more premium or decorative alternative.
How are legends applied to modern keycaps?
Common techniques include pad printing, laser etching, and dye sublimation, all of which apply markings after the cap body is formed. This largely replaced the two-shot molding method that dominated the 1970s and 1980s but proved too expensive for broad production.
What is a keycap profile and why does it matter?
A profile describes the specific curvature, height, and angle of a cap's surface, which changes how it feels under your fingers. Popular examples range from OEM and Cherry to enthusiast favorites like SA, DSA, KAT, and XDA, each created by different makers.
Why did keycaps become separate from keyswitches?
Early keyboards fused the cap and switch into a single molded piece, but splitting them into two components made it far simpler to produce keyboards in different regional layouts. The separation also lets users swap caps for customization or easy repair.
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