mousepad

A mousepad is a small, portable surface that sometimes provides better traction for the ball on a computer mouse and, at the very least, provides a bounded area in which to move the mouse. On very smooth table or desktop surfaces, the mouse ball may tend to glide instead of roll unless pressure is continually applied. Some mousepads provide a slightly rougher surface so that it's easier to get the mouse to move the screen cursor. A mousepad usually has a plastic surface and a thin rubber or plastic cushion.

Mousepads are sometimes given away at computer and Internet trade shows or with Internet or computer magazine subscriptions.