Glossary » mouse-button binding

mouse-button binding

the association of a button on a mouse with a specific functionality, such as the association of a specific tool with the left mouse button after that tool has been selected in a toolbar. Mice range in the number of buttons they have: 1 to 3 buttons is common. While the left mouse button is typically used to select items and press on-screen buttons, the middle and right buttons are often bound with different behaviors. Common behaviors that buttons are bound to include:

• extending a selection
• displaying contextual menus (commands that are specific to the item or area clicked)
• performing a constrained operation, such as drawing straight lines when the primary button can draw arbitrary lines
• displaying system commands
• providing help for the item clicked