| 0 |
| *% | General note: Percentages usually refer to the amount of keys in comparison to a standard ANSI layout. |
| 40% | A minimal keyboard layout reduced to letters and a few modifier keys. |
| 60% | A keyboard layout consisting of just the main cluster without the numpad, function row, arrow cluster and navigation cluster. Also refers to keyboards with a compressed layout that has about the same size. |
| 75% | A compressed keyboard layout without a numberpad. Usually has one more row and one more column in comparison to a 60%. |
| 80% | See "tenkeyless". |
|
|
| A |
| ABS | Abbreviation for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, a common type of plastic used for keycaps. |
| APL | A programming language that uses special symbols in its syntax. |
| ATmega | A microcontroller that can be used as a keyboard controller. |
|
|
| B |
| Battleship, battlecruiser | A keyboard bigger than full-size, often with 122 keys. |
| BIN | Abbreviation for "buy it now". |
| BNIB | Abbreviation for "brand new in box". |
| BSP | BSP Europe, a keycap manufacturer. |
| Buckling Spring [BS] | A clicky spring-over-membrane key mechanism, typically found on IBM/Lexmark/Unicomp keyboards. There is also a capacitive variant without a membrane. |
|
|
| C |
| Cherry | A switch, keyboard and formerly keycap manufacturer. |
| ClickClack [CC, Clack Factory, Clark] | GH user who makes custom keycaps; also refers to these keycaps, the most common of which features a stylised skull. |
| CONUS | Abbreviation for Contiguous United States, referring to the 48 adjoining U.S. states between Canada and Mexico and the District of Columbia. |
| Cooler Master Storm [CM, CM Storm] | A keyboard brand, sells keyboards such as the QFR. The gaming division of Cooler Master. |
| Costar | A keyboard manufacturer. |
|
|
| D |
| DCS | The cylindrical keycap profile used by Signature Plastics. This is the profile closest to Cherry. |
| Deck | A keyboard brand. |
| Deskthority [DT] | A mechanical keyboard focused forum similar to Geekhack. |
| Diatec | Diatec is a coportation that makes power supplies, PC peripherals, and keyboards under the brand name "Filco". |
| Dibs | Used when claiming or reserving something. |
| Doubleshot [DS] | A method to print legends on a key. |
| DSA | The short spherical keycap profile used by Signature Plastics. |
| Ducky | A keyboard manufacturer. |
| Dyesub | A method to print legends on a key. |
|
|
| E |
| EliteKeyboards [EK] | Website that sells keyboards such as Leopold and Topre. Also stocks keycaps and accessories like keypullers and lube. |
|
|
| F |
| Filco | A keyboard brand. |
|
|
| G |
| GH | Abbreviation for Geekhack. |
| GID | Abbreviation for "glow in the dark". |
| GLWS [GLW*] | Abbreviation of "good luck with sale", also used with trade, buy, etc. |
| GMK | GMK Electronic Design, a keycap manufacturer. GMK bought the old Cherry ABS molds and is producing new caps from the Cherry molds; they are new "Cherry" keycaps. |
| Group Buy [GB] | An organized purchase by a group to reduce pricing or to reach a MOQ. |
|
|
| I |
| Interest Check [IC] | A survey to get an idea if there is interest in a product or group buy. |
| iOne | A keyboard manufacturer. |
|
|
| K |
| KBDMania [kbdmania.net, kbd] | A korean mechanical keyboard focused forum similar to Geekhack. |
| Korean custom keyboard | Refers to custom keyboards from Korea that are made in small numbers and usually come with a metal case. Depending on the model they are also programmable. |
| KTOD | Refers to a series of threads called Keyboard Talk of the Day. |
|
|
| M |
| Massdrop [MD] | A commercial vendor that organizes sales similar to group buys. |
| MechanicalKeyboards.com [MK, MK.com] | A website that sells mechanical keyboards and keyboard accessories. |
| Mechanical Keyboards Subreddit [/r/mech] | Subforum on Reddit focused on mechanical keyboards. |
| Moogle Compatibility Kit [Moogle] | A set of additional keys to make a keycap set with a non-standard layout compatible for a standard ANSI layout. Here's a picture from Ovoxo that shows the keys it usually includes. |
| MOQ | Abbreviation of "minimum order quantity". |
|
|
| N |
| NIB | Abbreviation for "new in box". |
| NOS | Abbreviation for "new old stock", unsold stock of a product that is no longer produced. |
|
|
| O |
| OG | Original, abbreviation for original gangster. |
| OP | Abbreviation for original post or poster, referring to the person who opened the thread or the first post in the thread. |
| OnTheDesk [otd.kr, OTD] | A korean mechanical keyboard focused forum similar to Geekhack. |
| Overclock.net [OCN] | A technology related forum. |
|
|
| P |
| PBT | Abbreviation for polybutylene terephthalate, a type of plastic used for keycaps. |
| PimpMyKeyboard [PMK] | A website from Signature Plastics. |
| Potato [picture] | A photo with miserable quality. |
| POM | Polyoxymethylene, a type of plastic used for keycaps. |
| Point of sale [POS] | Used to reference cash register keyboards. |
|
|
| Q |
| QuickFire Rapid [QFR] | A keyboard made by CM Storm. |
|
|
| R |
| Rosewill | A keyboard brand. |
| Rubberdome [RD] | Rubber dome over membrane switch. Used in non-mechanical keyboards. |
|
|
| S |
| SA | The tall spherical keycap profile used by Signature Plastics. |
| Shine [DSII, DS2, DSIII, DS3] | A keyboard series made by Ducky. |
| SP | Signature Plastics, a keycap manufacturer. |
| SSK | Abbreviation for space saving keyboard, a tenkeyless buckling-spring keyboard originally from IBM. |
| Stabilizers [Stabs] | A mechanism that enables pressing down large keys without hitting their center. |
|
|
| T |
| Teensy | A small development board that is often used as a keyboard controller. |
| Tenkeyless [TKL, 80%] | A keyboard layout without a numpad. |
| TG3 Electronics | An input device manufacturer that is also the parent company of Deck. |
| Tsangan Compatibility Kit [Tsangan] | A set of additional keys to make a keycap set compatible with non-standard layouts. Here's a picture from Hashbaz that shows the keys it usually includes. |
| TW | Abbreviation for "testing waters", synonym for an interest check. |
|
|
| W |
| WASD Keyboards | A keyboard and keycap manufacturer. |
| Windown 98 [Memphis] | An operating system by Microsoft. |
| Winkeyless [WKL] | A keyboard layout without Windows and menu keys, featuring larger Ctrl and Alt keys. |
| WTS [WT*] | Abbreviation of "want to sell", also used with trade, buy, etc. |
| WTTF | Abbreviation of "want to trade for". |
|
|
| Y |
| Year of the Bull [YotB] | A keyboard by Ducky released 2009. |
| Year of the Dragon [YotD] | A TKL backlit keyboard by Ducky with black case and new backlighting modes, released 2012. |
| Year of the Rabbit [YotR] | A full size non-backlit keyboard by Ducky with a white case and PBT keycaps, released 2011. |
| Year of the Snake [YotS] | A full size backlit keyboard by Ducky with an aluminium case top and a snake space bar, released 2013. |
| Year of the Tiger [YotT] | A full size non-backlit keyboard by Ducky with a black case and PBT keycaps, released 2010. |
