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Spacebar Reaction Test

Same test, react with the spacebar — your keyboard hand vs. your mouse hand.

MEASURES
Visual RT
INPUT
Spacebar
TIME
~30 sec
How the test works

Is the spacebar really faster?

For most people, a keypress lands a hair quicker than a mouse click. A key switch actuates partway through its travel, and the finger you rest on the spacebar barely has to move — while a click asks a fingertip to press down through a full switch. The difference is small, usually 5 to 15 ms, but it is real and it is measurable.

Everything else is the classic test. The panel sits red through a random 1.5 to 5 second delay, then flips green, and a clock started at the exact frame your screen painted that green stops the instant your key goes down — on keydown, not keyup, so your own key-release time never lands in the score.

We run it five times and take the median. Run the classic click test as well and your stats page will hold the two medians up against each other, so you can see your own keyboard-versus-mouse margin rather than trusting ours.

How your score grades
Legend
under 149 ms
Top 2% of people
Elite
150 – 200 ms
Top 13% of people
Fast
200 – 249 ms
Top 40% of people
Average
250 – 299 ms
Right in the middle
Relaxed
300 – 349 ms
Bottom 67% of people
Take a nap
350 ms +
Bottom 84% of people
Questions
Is spacebar faster than clicking?
Usually by a small margin — 5 to 15 ms for most people. A key switch actuates mid-travel and the resting finger barely moves, so the input registers a touch sooner than a full mouse click.
Why did my press not count?
Only the spacebar counts on desktop. If you pressed a different key nothing happens; if you pressed space while the panel was still red, that is a jump start and the round is voided and replayed.
Does keyboard type matter?
Yes. A wired mechanical keyboard reports faster than a wireless membrane board. For a fair spacebar-versus-click read, run both tests on the same machine.
How do I compare my two hands?
Every session is saved in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Take the classic click test too, then open your stats page — it lists both medians side by side, kept separate for desktop and mobile.