Components & Parts / Switches

This rotary encoder is the best of the best, it's a high-quality 24-pulse encoder, with detents and a nice feel. It is panel mountable for placement in a box, or you can plug it into a breadboard (just cut/bend the two mechanical side tabs.) We also include a nice soft-touch knob with an arrow in it, fits perfectly and looks great. This encoder also has a push-button...

These nice switches are perfect for use with breadboard and perfboard projects. They have 0.1" spacing and snap in nicely into a solderless breadboard. They're easy to switch no matter what size fingers you have, but not so easy that they'll get flipped by accident. Work great as on/off switches or selector switches, the middle pin is connected to either the left or...

Slim clicky momentary switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These are half the width of classic 6mm tactile switches so they line up better on a breadboard, just plug them into every-other row. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The two pins are normally open (disconnected) and when...

Little clicky switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. These buttons are bigger than the 6mm ones we carry and come in a pack of 15. Each button comes...

Little clicky switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. They come in a pack of 20, they're pretty handy so you'll want to keep them around. You can find...

Squeeze once to turn on, squeeze again to turn off! This clicky switch makes a great power switch or mode toggler. We like this switch because it's easy to embed in a seam for easily powering up/off wearable and fabric projects. Can handle up to 14V and 2 Amps! This is a really satisfying switch. As of May 20th, the dimensions of this switch are: Length of wires:...

Medium-sized clicky momentary switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. They come in a pack of 10, they're pretty handy so you'll want to keep them...

Micro-switches are often found in arcade buttons and joysticks but they're also really handy in any kind of mechatronics project or when you need a basic sensor. They are always 'tactile' (clicky feeling), and 'momentary' (the switch closes when pressed, then snaps open once released). They come in a few different varieties (mostly having to do with the contacts and...

This navigation switch is an intuitive way to add 5 button's worth of interfacing with a single component. Inside is 5 switches: left, right, up, down and 'select' (pressing down), all with a common ground pin. The package isn't exactly on a 0.1" grid, but we found that you can push it into a breadboard with a little bending and it snaps in nicely. We have a nice...

So squishy! These silicone elastomer keypads are just waiting for your fingers to press them. Go ahead, squish all you like! (They're durable and easy to clean, just wipe with mild soap and water) These are just like the light up rubber buttons you find on stuff like appliances and tools, but these are open source and easy to integrate into your next project. Each...

Your friends probably tell you that you are "good with your hands," but now you can also be good with your feet! This foot switch is made of rubbery plastic, is plenty strong to put up with any amount of stomping, and contains a snap switch. You can use the switch as either a "normally open" or "normally closed" type. Attached to the switch is a 2 meter long cable so...

Micro-switches are often found in arcade buttons and joysticks but they're also really handy in any kind of mechatronics project or when you need a basic sensor. They are always 'tactile' (clicky feeling), and 'momentary' (the switch closes when pressed, then snaps open once released). They come in a few different varieties (mostly having to do with the contacts and...

Micro-switches are often found in arcade buttons and joysticks but they're also really handy in any kind of mechatronics project or when you need a basic sensor. They are always 'tactile' (clicky feeling), and 'momentary' (the switch closes when pressed, then snaps open once released). They come in a few different varieties (mostly having to do with the contacts and...

Super-tall clicky momentary switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. These are extra tall which are useful when putting your project in an enclosure...

Click click click - oh pardon me I was having fun clicking away on my mechanical decade counters. Each order comes with five individual counters. They're snap together so you can connect as many or as few as you'd like. Each one has two buttons - an up counter and down counter. Once you get to 9 it circles back to zero. On the back is a PCB with 11 contacts - one...

Click click click - oh pardon me I was having fun clicking away on my mechanical decade counters. Each order comes with five individual counters. They're snap together so you can connect as many or as few as you'd like. Each one has two buttons - an up counter and down counter. Once you get to 9 it circles back to zero. On the back is a PCB with 11 contacts - one...

When you need a lot of options, you need a Mini 8-Way Rotary Selector Switch. This is basically a single-pole to 8-throw switch. As you rotate the knob around, the middle pin will make contact with each of the outer pins. Rotary switches are very simple to use and are also nice and compact. This one is easy to panel mount, thanks to the included washer and hex nut....

A new tiny squishy delight! This Black Rubber Joystick Nubbin Cap is the perfect add-on to any of your projects with a 5-way navigation joystick, like our Adafruit Mini Color TFT with Joystick FeatherWing or Adafruit 128x64 OLED Bonnet for Raspberry Pi. Fits perfectly on classic 5-way navigation joysticks like this one. It's solid, sturdy, and presses on firmly. We...

This funky user interface element is reminiscent of the original clicking scroll wheel interface on the first iPods. It's a fancy mechanical kit but has an intuitiveness that is hard to argue with - everyone knows how to use this kind of rotary encoder to scroll and select. This product is just the encoder/button wheel element. The pin-out is a little odd, we really...

This or that, one or the other, perhaps or perhaps not! So hard to make decisions these days without feeling like you're just going back and forth constantly. Deciding whether or not to use this mini toggle switch? That's the easiest decision you'll make all day! This Mini Panel Mount SPDT Toggle Switch is great for any project where you have two options to select...

Here's a new addition to our rotary-potentiometer-knob family. This knob has a nice soft-touch feel with an arrow on it, and its much 'slimmer' than the skirted knob we have been using, so good for compact layouts. Note: This is just the knob. We have a breadboard-friendly rotary encoder here. Rotary encoders are useful as rotation sensors or selectors and look...

By popular request, we've upgraded our popular Trellis elastomer button kits to now have a PCB with full color NeoPixel support! You heard that right, no more single-color LEDs, you can now have any color you like under the fantastic rubbery button pads we sell. These 4x4 button pad boards are fully tile-able and communicate over I2C. With 5 address pins, you've got...

Put your project in stealth mode with these silent Soft Tactile Switch Buttons. Tactile switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. They come in a pack of...

This or that, one or the other, perhaps or perhaps not! So hard to make decisions these days without feeling like you're just going back and forth constantly. Deciding whether or not to use this mini toggle switch? That's the easiest decision you'll make all day! This Mini Panel Mount DPDT Toggle Switch is great for any project where you need two switches each with...

Little clicky switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These are just like our Colorful Round Tactile Button Switch Assortment, but already assembled onto a PCB - they even have a pull-up resistor installed! The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. Each button comes with a candy-colored...

MAJOR KEY ALERT 🔑🔑🔑 we now stock 'Key Lock Switches'! These are mechanical switches that don't use a button or a lever or a magnet to open and close the contacts. Instead, a literal key is used. This is a low cost but effective key lock switch that's nice and compact: you only need to drill a 12mm / 0.5" diameter hole in your mounting plate. Insert the key...

Have you ever seen a tactile button do a headstand? This little clicky button is like a circus (circuit circus?) performer, contorting itself so its legs stick up instead of down the way most are. We think these could be used in SMT projects where you want to have a button that comes through a PCB but without the front height. These are unique and we thought some...

Fire up your engines because these are the hot-rods of toggle switches! Equipped with an aerodynamic red protective casing, and a red LED at the tip of the switch, this Red LED Toggle Switch is sure to add some flair (and flare!) to your project. Often seen on control panels, now you can mimic a racing car, fighter jet, submarine status panel, factory controls, or...

You know those party platters you see at fancy events, where there's like sliced carrots on one side, and chunks of cheese on another, all divided up lovely? OK this is the exact same thing but for 6mm tactile buttons. You will never feel constrained by button colors again with this button party, lots of colors, in a handy carry case. Little clicky switches are...

When designing your next PCB, if you're not sure what sort of tactile switches you can fit, or how they would look, this Tactile Switch Assortment with 25 Different Buttons (10 pcs each type) is incredibly handy! You get just enough that you can prototype and even lose a couple pieces, but not so many that you're drowning in buttons. Also great for repair, if you're...

This brilliant invention is a blessing for makers designing or using boards with standard 2.1mm DC barrel jacks. Many devices opt against a proper power switch, for size or cost or other design reasons. So, you're expected to unplug when not in use. But you want something a little fancier! This 2.1mm DC Power Jack with Slide Switch has the same PCB layout as classic...

This product is really annoying to have to write a description for because it's really something you have to touch to understand! Instead of a hard plastic actuator-button, these have a soft molded silicone button top. The underlying switch is still a clicky dome-switch but you have this nice soft grippy button for your fingers. It's incredibly satisfying to press...

Fire up your engines because these are the hot-rods of toggle switches! Equipped with an aerodynamic blue protective casing, and a diffused blue LED at the tip of the switch, this Blue LED Toggle Switch is sure to add some flair (and flare!) to your project. Often seen on control panels, now you can mimic a racing car, fighter jet, submarine status panel, factory...

Fire up your engines because these are the hot-rods of toggle switches! Equipped with an aerodynamic green protective casing, and a green LED at the tip of the switch, this Green LED Toggle Switch is sure to add some flair (and flare!) to your project. Often seen on control panels, now you can mimic a racing car, fighter jet, submarine status panel, factory controls,...

Fire up your engines because these are the hot-rods of toggle switches! Equipped with an aerodynamic yellow protective casing, and a yellow LED at the tip of the switch, this Yellow LED Toggle Switch is sure to add some flair (and flare!) to your project. Often seen on control panels, now you can mimic a racing car, fighter jet, submarine status panel, factory...

Add some steely elegance to your project with these Metal Ball Tactile Buttons. They've got a nice industrial shine to them along with a light blue underbelly. Not only do they look good, but they're also good if you have an actuator that will be pressing the button at an angle! Little clicky switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work...

MAJOR KEY ALERT 🔑🔑🔑 we now stock 'Key Lock Switches'! These mechanical switches don't use a button, lever, or magnet to open and close the contacts. Instead, a literal key is used. This low-cost but effective key lock switch is nice and compact: you only need to drill a 12mm / 0.5" diameter hole in your mounting plate. Insert the 'bike lock' style key and...

These Reese's Piece's lookin' bits fit perfectly on top of tactile buttons with 2.4mm square tops and give a satisfying 8mm diameter surface area for your fingers to press. You get 10 candy-colored round caps. You get two of each color: red, yellow, white, gray, and Adafruit black. Snap these onto a tactile switch body (not included) to customize your PyGamer, or...

MAJOR KEY ALERT 🔑🔑🔑 we now stock 'Key Lock Switches'! These mechanical switches don't use a button, a lever, or a magnet to open and close the contacts. Instead, a literal key is used. This low-cost but effective key lock switch is nice and compact: you only need to drill a 12mm / 0.5" diameter hole in your mounting plate. Insert the 'bike lock' style key...

Little clicky switches are standard input "buttons" on electronic projects. These work best in a PCB but can be used on a solderless breadboard as shown in this tutorial. The pins are normally open (disconnected) and when the button is pressed they are momentarily closed. These buttons are bigger than the 6mm ones we carry and come in a pack of 15. Each button comes...

This item is just for the Trellis driver PCB assembly: LEDs and buttons not included. Trellis is an open source backlight keypad driver system. It is easy to use, works with any 3mm LEDs and eight tiles can be tiled together on a shared I2C bus. This PCB is specially made to match the Adafruit 4x4 elastomer keypad. Each Trellis PCB has 4x4 pads and 4x4 matching spots...

The ANO rotary encoder wheel is a funky user interface element, reminiscent of the original clicking scroll wheel interface on the first iPods. It's a nifty kit, but the pin-out is a little odd - and there are a ton of pins needed to connect to the rotary encoder and five button switches. This Stemma QT breakout makes all that frustration go away. The onboard...

The ANO rotary encoder wheel is a funky user interface element, reminiscent of the original clicking scroll wheel interface on the first iPods. It's a nifty kit, but the pin-out is a little odd - and there's a ton of pins needed to connect to the rotary encoder and 5 button switches. This Stemma QT breakout makes all that frustration go away - solder in the ANO...

Rotary encoders are soooo much fun! Twist em this way, then twist them that way. Unlike potentiometers, they go all the way around and often have little detents for tactile feedback. But, if you've ever tried to add encoders to your project you know that they're a real challenge to use: timers, interrupts, debouncing... This Stemma QT breakout makes all that...

Put your project in stealth mode with these super slim, super tiny, and silent Mini Soft Touch Push-button Switches. They're less 'clicky' than tactile switches, they have a rubbery elastomer that feels good to press. No dangly spider-leg-pins to solder as these buttons are SMD. We see these often in little game arcade pad layouts due to their small size and soft...

The ANO rotary encoder wheel is a funky user interface element is reminiscent of the original clicking scroll wheel interface on the first iPods. It's a nifty kit, but the pin-out is a little odd, so we made a handy breakout board that converts the funky pin set into a straightforward, breadboard-friendly header strip. This version comes with the encoder pre-soldered...

The ANO rotary encoder wheel is a funky user interface element is reminiscent of the original clicking scroll wheel interface on the first iPods. It's a nifty kit, but the pin-out is a little odd, so we made a handy breakout board that converts the funky pin set into a straightforward, breadboard-friendly header strip. This is just the PCB for the ANO encoder, the...

The only thing better than a nice mechanical key, is two of them, and ones that also can glow any color of the rainbow - and that's what the Adafruit NeoKey FeatherWing will let you do! This Wing plugs into any/all Feather main boards and can fit two Cherry MX or compatible switches to turn your Feather into the lil'est macro keypad. Each Wing has two Kailh sockets,...

This brilliant invention is a blessing for makers designing or using boards with standard 2.1mm DC barrel jacks. Many devices opt against a proper power switch, for size or cost or other design reasons. So, you're expected to unplug when not in use. But you want something a little fancier! This 2.1mm DC Power Jack with Rocker Switch has the same PCB layout as classic...

Micro-switches are often found in arcade buttons and joysticks but they're also really handy in any kind of mechatronics project or when you need a basic sensor. They are always 'tactile' (clicky feeling), and 'momentary' (the switch closes when pressed, then snaps open once released). They come in a few different varieties (mostly having to do with the contacts and...

Fire up your engines because these are the hot-rods of toggle switches! Equipped with an aerodynamic clear protective casing, and a diffused white LED at the tip of the switch, this Clear/White LED Toggle Switch is sure to add some flair (and flare!) to your project. Often seen on control panels, now you can mimic a racing car, fighter jet, submarine status panel,...

The super-villain emerges from the grand entrance in a wicked, souped-up robotic spider. "Ah hah, so you've discovered my secret compound, Ms. Croft. How unfortunate for you that I control all the egresses..." She chortles (evilly) and presses forward on the switch installed on her armrest panel. "Before I modded my robotic contraption, I could only go backwards and...