# What is a button?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-button/630641>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [August 6, 2012, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-button/630641 "2012-08-06T18:32:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-button/630641/21 "2012-08-10T15:43:34Z")

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> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> Well, every single object in your computer UI is a… metaphor, I guess? The buttons aren’t real buttons, the desktop isn’t a real desktop, the folders aren’t real folder. They’re abstract representations of real things. In the case of buttons, they’re often textured to look like they’re raised or rounded. So I don’t think those really apply to the discussion.

I think that’s getting _too_ literal. You press a thing, it does something. Functionally it’s a button regardless of what it looks like.

When I say metaphor, I’m talking about referring to something that isn’t functionally a button but might be described as such. Candy buttons, a belly button (outies, anyway), a nipple, or anything else that might also be referred to as a nub.

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**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\
**Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-button/630641/22 "2012-08-10T20:17:24Z")

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This thread needs a [musical interlude](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLESpHrtvxs).

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**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-button/630641/23 "2012-08-11T05:00:28Z")

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This is a button: [http://v10games.com/arcade/game-dontpushtheredbutton.htm](http://v10games.com/arcade/game-dontpushtheredbutton.htm)

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**Author:** ![typoink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecb155/32.png) [@typoink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/typoink)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2012, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-a-button/630641/24 "2012-08-11T23:05:54Z")

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> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#):
>
> Now, the thing on my PS3 requires me to apply force, so I would call it a flush button, like **johnpost** said.
> 
> On the other hand, the power button on my xBox doesn’t require any pressure. All I have to do is brush my finger over it very lightly and the machine will turn on. I’d never thought about it before, but I think I wouldn’t actually call it a button. I guess “touch-activated switch” works as well as anything, but I wonder if there’s already a better word.

Huh. The buttons on my PS3 require no force; they’re capacitive sensors and I can lightly brush them. The power button on my Xbox 360 is a physical button. I clicks.

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