What is the "Anti-Ghosting Function" on Keyboards?

"Anti-Ghosting Function" Accurately Detects Multiple Simultaneous Key Presses

The anti-ghosting function on keyboards is a feature that allows the keyboard to accurately detect input even when multiple keys are pressed simultaneously.

On standard keyboards, pressing certain combinations of multiple keys at the same time can sometimes cause unpressed keys to be recognized. These are known as "ghost inputs."

"Ghost inputs" occur due to the keyboard's circuit design and are especially likely to happen when physically adjacent keys are pressed simultaneously.

For example, keys located at the edge of the keyboard (such as Ctrl or Shift) are often pressed together for shortcuts, and because their contacts are more densely packed compared to other keys, ghost inputs are said to occur more easily.

Keyboards equipped with the "anti-ghosting function" are designed to prevent ghost inputs even with such key combinations.

Advantages of the "Anti-Ghosting Function"

The greatest advantage of using a keyboard with the "anti-ghosting function" is that it ensures the accuracy of key input.

For use cases that involve rapid typing or frequent simultaneous key presses, such as gaming or programming, the fact that ghost inputs do not occur thanks to the "anti-ghosting function" provides a psychological advantage.

It can be said that the anti-ghosting function is a feature that offers an advantage in such scenarios.

Disadvantages of the "Anti-Ghosting Function"

The disadvantages of keyboards equipped with the "anti-ghosting function" are mainly "price" and "the limited number of situations where its benefits can be enjoyed."

In terms of price, keyboards with the anti-ghosting function are mainly mid-range or higher among mechanical keyboards, making them somewhat expensive as keyboards.

Despite using such expensive keyboards, for general PC use—such as writing documents or browsing the internet—ghost inputs rarely occur in the first place, so you may not feel the benefits.

In that sense, the drawback is that you are less likely to notice the advantages unless you are using the keyboard for tasks where accuracy is crucial, such as gaming or programming.

The Difference Between Anti-Ghosting Function and N-Key Rollover

In terms of "correctly detecting simultaneous key presses," there is a similar feature called N-key rollover.

While the two are similar, they are different concepts.

The anti-ghosting function guarantees that keys pressed simultaneously are "recognized correctly without erroneous input," whereas N-key rollover refers to the ability to "correctly process any number of keys pressed simultaneously."

Both features have become important in gaming scenarios, and it is increasingly common for keyboards to be equipped with both anti-ghosting and N-key rollover.