Definition: scroll mouse

A mouse with a rubber or plastic wheel. When the wheel is moved on the scroll mouse, the content in the active application window scrolls up or down. Introduced in the mid-1990s, the scroll mouse eliminates the need to aim the cursor at a scroll bar and clicking. Also known as a "wheel mouse," pressing the wheel can perform another function. In addition, while holding the Control or Command key down, moving the wheel may zoom the screen in and out.

Scroll mice contain the normal left and right mouse buttons but may also have side buttons that can be programmed for previous page, next page and other actions. In addition, the scroll wheel may move from side to side for horizontal scrolling. See touch scroll and scroll bar.

Scroll Mice

Popularized by Microsoft's IntelliMouse, scroll mice have become the norm ever since. In these examples, the arrows point to the wheels.