What Is a Wireless Mouse?

A wireless mouse is a computer mouse that needs no wires to send signals from the mouse to a computer.

Wireless mouse technology predominantly uses radio frequencies to send signals from the mouse to the computer. Like other radio technologies, this requires a transmitter and a receiver.

The mouse transmits radio signals to a receiver, which is itself connected to the computer hardware, normally via a wire. This kind of wireless mouse is very reliable, and capable of transmitting the mouse's movements to the receiver from across a room.

The emergence of Bluetooth® wireless technology offers a different spin on RF wireless mice.

In regard to the technology used to record movement, wireless mice are similar to corded mice.

Optical wireless mice don't use tracking balls; instead the rely on optical light to detect movement. This allows the mouse to detect movement accurately on a variety of smooth, hard surfaces.

Laser mice are particularly well-suited for wireless use, as they can detect movement accurately over the widest variety of surfaces, including something as convenient as a pant leg.