An optical trackpad is an

input device In computing, an input device is a piece of equipment used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system, such as a computer or information appliance. Examples of input devices include keyboards, computer mice, scanne ...

based on an optical sensor, which detects the displacement of a finger that is moving on top of it. The sensor is used typically in

smartphone A smartphone is a mobile phone with advanced computing capabilities. It typically has a touchscreen interface, allowing users to access a wide range of applications and services, such as web browsing, email, and social media, as well as multi ...

s, where it replaces the D-pad, and in ultra-portable or ultra-mobile PCs, where it replaces

touchpad A touchpad or trackpad is a type of pointing device. Its largest component is a tactile sensor: an electronic device with a flat surface, that detects the motion and position of a user's fingers, and translates them to 2D motion, to control a Cu ...

s, pointing sticks or

trackball A trackball is a pointing device consisting of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect a rotation of the ball about two axes—like an upside-down ball mouse (computing), mouse with an exposed protruding ball. Users roll the ball t ...

s as pointing device. The main advantages over a D-pad are: * It can track movements in 360 degrees and with varying speeds. * It uses space efficiently, without the need for small buttons that are difficult to press. Next to browsing through menus, it can drive a mouse cursor in point&click interfaces. In comparison with

s, it detects actual skin displacement, instead of displacement of the center of the area being touched, and more similar to pointing sticks or compact trackballs by using experience, but with less physical feedback.

References

{{Comp-hardware-stub Pointing_devices

See also

References