Difference between Mouse and Trackball

Optical Mouse is a pointing device used with a graphical interface to click on the icons on the screen or monitor. It is a small object which can be over a flat surface. When it is moved, a graphical arrowhead called the pointer moves on the screen. Using this pointer any object on the screen can be selected. It has a left and right button for selecting along with a scroll wheel in the centre which is used to move a page up and down.

Trackball consists of a ball held by a socket containing sensors to detect the rotation of the balls which can be rotated in different directions. It is a pointing device used to move the pointer on the screen of the laptop. You can move the pointer by moving your finger on the touchpad of your device.

Below is a table of differentiation between Optical Mouse and Trackball:

	Optical Mouse	Trackball
1.	An optical mouse is a pointing device which uses infrared light to illuminate the surface.	It is also a pointing device which uses a ball to control the pointer.
2.	Mouse system corporation was the first company to use an optical mouse in 1980.	The trackball was patented in 1947.
3.	It is popular among regular users.	It is mainly used for industrial purposes.
4.	It needs to shift its position to move the pointer.	No movement of the device is required, only the ball needs to be rotated.
5.	It is less expensive compared to the trackball.	It is an expensive input device.
6.	Optical mouses uses glider pads.	Ball bearings are used in trackballs.
7.	In this arrangement, sensors move on the surface for controlling the pointer.	In this arrangement, the surface moves over the sensors to provide control of the pointer.
8.	It uses LED technology.	It uses sockets with sensors to trackball movement.