Okay this one is straight forward, here are the parts of a typical mechanical keyboard from top to bottom physically.
Keycaps, switches, plate, PCB, and case.
Keycaps
![](https://i0.wp.com/m.media-amazon.com/images/S/aplus-media/vc/87dc01a2-6bdd-4edd-b188-140ab22af893.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
Keycaps are the first thing you see on the keyboard, they are the piece of plastic with alphabets and numbers on them that u press. Typically in black or white but comes in much more colors in the custom world. Click here to read more on keycaps.
Switches
![](https://i2.wp.com/massdrop-s3.imgix.net/product-images/massdrop-x-invyr-holy-panda-mechanical-switches/FP/DwYWcr96TM2KkNmnQAFe_PC.png?w=1200&ssl=1)
Switches are literally what the name implies, they switch the keys on or off, so when you press “W” it literally turns on W on the electronic circuit board to send the signal to your computer or phone. There are 3 types in general + silent variants. Read more about switches here and here.
Plate
![](https://i2.wp.com/cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/products/1_3377207b-685c-4f60-95f5-5ddb0ad91ae7_large.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
The plate is used to hold the switches in the right place, and in customs we use different materials for different sounds and typing feel. However, not every keyboard has a plate, as many gaming keyboards use an “integrated plate” where the plate and case are a single component to save costs and results in a keyboard that doesn’t sound very good. Read more about keyboard plates here.
PCB
![](https://i2.wp.com/cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/products/c_1_1800x1800.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
This is straightforward, it’s basically just a circuit board that turns your key press into something your computer recognizes and sometimes make really pretty lights too.
Case
![](https://i1.wp.com/cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/1473/3902/products/4_b41f7528-bd60-4c3b-a9e7-9488bc53b1af_1800x1800.jpg?w=1200&ssl=1)
It’s a case lol. It holds everything together. The material of the case can drastically change the feel and sound of a keyboard. Read more about case material here.