Reference articles on history, science, culture and more
Surprise meSurprise meSubscribe
Encyclopedia

Clicker

Small noisemaker, used in animal training

Wikipedia contributorsAdapted for Fathomly · View authors
2 min read
Source updated April 17, 2026
Image credit is listed at the end of this article.

A clicker, sometimes called a cricket, is any device that makes a clicking sound, usually when deliberately activated by its user.

They usually consist of a piece of thin metal or plastic held in a casing so that the metal is slightly torqued; depressing one end of the metal causes it to pop out of alignment and releasing it causes it to pop back into alignment, each time making a sharp click.

With some clickers, the user depresses the metal directly with thumb or finger; with others, a button extends above the surface of the casing so that depressing the button makes the metal click.

01Social uses

  • In World War II clickers were used by Allied paratroopers preceding and during Operation Overlord as a way of covertly identifying friend from foe. A soldier would click once and if two clicks were received in return from an unidentifiable soldier then his identification was confirmed.
  • Clickers are used to provide audible feedback for human students learning using a method called TAGteach.
  • Clickers were used to organize Catholic group activity.

"The clickers were dime store crickets that made a nice, loud click, perfect for signaling a First Communion class so all the kids would stand up at the same time, and kneel at the same time, and start filing down the aisle together.", Roger Ebert

Duck clicker, underside
Duck clicker, underside

02Animal training uses

Clickers were first used by marine mammal trainer Karen Pryor as a way of communicating with her animals. Dolphins and whales communicate underwater through a series of clicks and whistles known as echolocation, and the clicker allowed a trainer to produce signals they were more likely to understand.

Clickers are now used to train dogs, and other animals. When associated with a treat, a click allows the owner to mark the precise moment the desired behavior is executed.

D-Day cricket issued to Allied paratroopers
D-Day cricket issued to Allied paratroopers

03Other uses

  • Clickers are also used as a handheld counting device, sometimes digital but more commonly mechanical, used to keep a count of the numbers of people entering a venue. It is often used by nightclub doorstaff to make sure fire limits are not exceeded.
  • A clicker is a device used on recurve bows to signal to the archer that correct draw length has been achieved, thus aiding consistency.
  • Some board games designed after game shows come with clickers that are meant to emulate the buzzers common on such shows.
  • Clickers are used by some kink practitioners, in particular in the context of pet play.
Clicker-training clickers come in various shapes and forms.
Clicker-training clickers come in various shapes and forms.
Watch videos about ClickerExplainers and documentaries on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

Sources and credits

This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Clicker”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.

Images, from Wikimedia Commons:

Fathomly is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Wikimedia Foundation. Spotted a problem? Tell us.