Editing Joystick (section)

===Digital===
A '''digital joystick''' can indicate only the presence of nudge in a direction.
Most joysticks sense four directions (up, down, left, right) with diagonals sensed as two directions actuated as once.

Digital joysticks are typically constructed with an ''actuator'' (which ''engages'' and ''actuates'' the switches) on the other side of a pivot point from the joystick's handle.
''Engagement'' is when the actuator touches a switch, and ''actuation'' is when a switch closes. Digital joysticks are often compared by ''engage distance'' and ''actuation distance'', for how much movement is necessary before tactile/audial events and actuation.

The switches are often arranged pointing inwards towards an actuator in-between them, or in a plane with the actuator as a disc above them.
Joysticks of the former type more often have microswitches, and the latter type more often have rubber dome switches on a circuit board, but there are many exceptions to either.

The planar type's switch arrangement is somewhat similar to a [[D-pad]], except for the location of the pivot point. There are also some game controllers with a D-pad that supports a detachable joystick.