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Keyboard TestingRapid TriggerReal-Time Test
KEYBOARD PERFORMANCE

Rapid Trigger Test

Measure how fast one key completes press-release-press cycles — and how much of each cycle your keyboard's reset eats.

Rate--Hz
JACK BPM--BPM
Presses--
Avg Cycle--ms
Reset Gap--ms
READYLIVE · PRESS & RELEASERUN COMPLETECANCELLEDDISCARDED

Press the key you'll test

Selected key:SPACEBAR

The run starts on your first press — spam that same key until the bar fills. Esc cancels.

0.0 / 5.0 s
Rate Over Time

Real test data

Run a test to see your performance.
Key Selection

Selected key: SPACEBAR

How to use

Run your rapid trigger test

  1. 1
    Pick a key

    Choose the key to test from the selection chips below.

  2. 2
    Press to start

    Tap the selected key once — the 5-second run begins immediately.

  3. 3
    Spam it fast

    Rapidly press and release the same key until the progress bar fills.

  4. 4
    Watch the readout

    Live rate, Jack BPM and the cycle timeline update as you go.

  5. 5
    Review & compare

    Inspect your result, rate band and reset gap in the report.

  6. 6
    Cancel anytime

    Press Esc to cancel a run and start a fresh attempt.

Recent Runs

Last 20 runs

  • No recent runs yet.
Baseline

Compare new runs against this baseline

Pin a run as baseline from its results screen, then toggle Rapid Trigger and run again — the next results will show the difference.

Rapid Trigger and the Reset Gap, Explained

Two keyboards with identical switches can retrigger at very different speeds. The difference lives in the half of the keypress nobody measures: the reset.

The anatomy of a keypress cycle

Every repeated press is composed of two distinct intervals:

Hold
Finger down until finger up (keydown to keyup).
Reset gap
Release until the next registered press (keyup to next keydown).
Cycle
Full press-to-press interval (hold + reset gap).

This tool measures event timing from performance.now(), not physical switch travel.

How to run a fair comparison

  1. 01
    Test on standard switch

    Run once with Rapid Trigger disabled or set to default mechanical reset depth.

  2. 02
    Pin baseline

    Click "PIN AS BASELINE" on the results screen to record rate, reset gap, and cycle time.

  3. 03
    Re-test with Rapid Trigger

    Enable Rapid Trigger in your keyboard software, then spam the same key again under identical conditions.

  4. 04
    Compare differences

    View the percentage differences for rate, average reset gap, and full cycle duration.

Same key, same person, and same physical posture are far more meaningful than comparing numbers across different users.

What the numbers mean

Use these bands as contextual performance indicators, not guaranteed hardware specifications.

Sustained Rate Bands

< 0.8 HzSlow · long reset gaps dominate the cycle
0.8–1.2 HzStandard · typical mechanical keyboard pace
1.2–1.5 HzFast · clean, quick retrigger rhythm
1.5+ HzVery Fast · elite single-key tap cadence

Average Reset Gap Ranges

< 20 msVery aggressive Rapid Trigger settings
20–40 msModerate reset distance / tuned debounce
40+ msStandard mechanical switch full reset travel

For rhythm gamers: the BPM readout

In rhythm games like osu!mania, StepMania, or Etterna, single-key tapping (jacks) is often measured in beats per minute assuming 16th-note stream timing:

Jack BPM = Rate (Hz) × 15

For example, sustained 12 Hz tapping translates to roughly 180 BPM 16th notes. Note that rhythm-game precision involves hit accuracy and stamina, not purely peak raw finger spamming.

Getting more out of Rapid Trigger

  • Tune sensitivity carefully: Overly sensitive reset distances (e.g. 0.1 mm) can cause accidental releases or switch chatter under light finger resting.
  • Validate with Chatter Test: Use a dedicated chatter test to ensure your aggressive trigger settings are not generating accidental double presses.
  • Check per-game profiles: Tactical FPS counter-strafing requires different trigger timing than rhythm game jacks.

Note: This browser application cannot directly adjust your keyboard's hardware firmware settings — it provides non-invasive diagnostic measurement of browser-visible timing.

What a browser can and cannot see

What the browser CAN measure

  • Precise performance.now() keydown and keyup timestamps
  • Hold duration and release-to-press reset gaps
  • Consistency, cycle cadence, and rate-over-time stability

What the browser CANNOT see

  • Physical switch actuation point or reset depth in millimeters
  • Hall effect sensor magnetic flux voltages
  • Mechanical switch hysteresis and tactile bump position
  • USB controller polling interval beneath OS event dispatching

Frequently asked questions

Does this measure my actuation point in millimetres?
No. A browser receives key down and key up events, never switch travel, so the test measures the timing between them. Use it to compare settings, not to verify a millimetre figure.

What counts as a good reset gap?
There is no universal number - it depends on the board, the firmware setting and how you press. Record a baseline run, change one setting, then compare against your own result.

Why do two runs give different numbers?
Background CPU load, browser timer throttling and press consistency all move the result. Take several runs and compare medians rather than single best values.

Do I need a Hall effect or magnetic keyboard?
No. Any keyboard produces a valid reading. An adjustable board simply lets you see the difference when you change the actuation or reset setting.

Does polling rate affect these results?
It changes how quickly events reach the browser, which shifts the timings you see here. Measure it separately with the Polling Rate Test to see both figures side by side.