An optical mouse does not use a rolling ball. Instead, it bounces a beam of light from inside the mouse casing to a reflective pad and then back to a sensor on the mouse casing. Optical mice have no moving parts, and they're less subject to mechanical failure. However, they're limited in their movement to the boundaries of the reflective pad. These hybrids use a rubber ball to generate movement but interpret that movement with photo-interrupter discs that are turned by the internal rollers.
Most mice communicate with a computer through a cord attached to a port on the back of the computer.
Newer IBM-compatible machines have dedicated mouse ports, while older machines use a serial port . On most Macintosh computers, mice plug into the keyboard or the computer's Apple Desktop Bus port. Newer radio mice use low-power radio signals to transmit positioning information to the computer. All remote mice require batteries. Some use replaceable alkaline batteries, while others have rechargeables.