Button facts for kids
A button is a small, useful object that can mean different things depending on where you find it.
It can be a fastener that keeps your clothes closed, like on a shirt or pants. A button can also be a part of a machine or device that you push to make something happen. Or, it can be a picture on a computer screen that you click with a mouse to give the computer an instruction.
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Buttons on Clothes
Buttons used on clothes are fasteners. They help keep parts of clothing together. They are usually round and flat. A button goes through a special opening called a buttonhole. This holds the fabric securely.
How Clothing Buttons Work
Most clothing buttons have two or four holes. You sew thread through these holes to attach the button to fabric. Some buttons have a loop on the back called a "shank." This shank lifts the button slightly from the fabric, making it easier to push through a buttonhole.
Materials and History
Buttons have been used for thousands of years. Early buttons were often just decorative. They were made from shells, bones, wood, or metal. Over time, people started using them more for fastening clothes. In the 13th century, buttonholes became common in Europe. This made buttons very popular for closing garments. Today, many buttons are made from plastic. But you can still find them made from natural materials like wood, metal, or even recycled materials.
Push-Buttons on Devices
A push-button is a simple switch. You press it to control a machine or device. When you push it, it usually completes an electrical circuit. This makes something happen.
Where You Find Push-Buttons
Push-buttons are everywhere in our daily lives.
- On a remote control, you press buttons to change channels or volume.
- In an elevator, you push a button for the floor you want to go to.
- On a keyboard, each key is a type of push-button.
- Doorbell buttons make a sound when pressed.
- Many toys have buttons that make sounds or light up.
How Push-Buttons Work
When you press a push-button, it usually connects two electrical contacts. This allows electricity to flow. When you release the button, the contacts separate, and the electricity stops flowing. This simple action can start a motor, turn on a light, or send a signal to a computer.
Buttons on Computers and Screens
On computers, tablets, and smartphones, a button is often a picture or icon on the screen. You "press" it by clicking with a mouse or tapping with your finger. This tells the computer what to do.
Using Computer Buttons
Computer buttons are part of a program's user interface. This is how you interact with the software.
- On a website, you click a "Submit" button to send information.
- In a game, you might click buttons to choose actions or options.
- On an app, you tap buttons to open menus or start features.
- The "X" button at the top of a window closes the program.
How Computer Buttons Work
When you click or tap a screen button, the computer's software recognizes this action. It then runs a specific command or function. For example, clicking a "Save" button tells the program to store your work. These buttons make it easy to control complex software without needing to type commands.
Images for kids
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Brass buttons from the uniform of a Danish World War I artillery lieutenant
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Modern buttons made from vegetable ivory
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Spanish button from ca. 1650-1675 (about 12 mm).
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Button stamping machine, Henri Jamorski Button Factory, Paris, France, 1919
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Three plastic sew-through buttons (left) and one shank, fabric-covered button (right)
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Shirt studs
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Plastic studs for bedclothes
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Peter Carl Fabergé buttons in the Cleveland Museum of Art
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See also
In Spanish: Botón (indumentaria) para niños
