mouseclick

A mouse click is a user input action in graphical user interfaces that occurs when a user presses and releases a mouse button. In most environments the left button triggers the primary action, such as selecting an item or activating a control, while the right button often opens a context menu with secondary options. Some mice also include a middle button or wheel press, which can be used for actions like scrolling, opening links in new tabs, or other application-defined commands.

Clicks are commonly categorized as single-clicks and double-clicks. A single-click selects or activates a target, whereas a double-click sends two rapid clicks to perform actions such as opening a file or folder. The behavior of clicks can vary by platform and software, and some applications differentiate between a click and a drag, where pressing the button followed by movement initiates a drag-and-drop operation.

From a technical perspective, mouse input is modeled as events. A button press generates a mousedown event, releasing the button produces a mouseup event, and a complete click is typically recognized when a mousedown and mouseup occur in sequence with little movement. A rapid sequence of two clicks is interpreted as a dblclick event in many systems.

In software and web contexts, mouse clicks drive navigation and control activation. For accessibility, programs often provide keyboard equivalents and screen-reader support to ensure that actions normally performed by clicking remain operable for all users. Modern pointing devices and touchpads may simulate clicks, while touch screens translate taps into equivalent click actions in many interfaces.