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Click

A click is a type of consonant produced by means of a velaric ingressive airstream mechanism, in which the tongue forms two closures—one forward and one at the back of the mouth—while the enclosed air is rarefied by tongue lowering before the forward closure is released, creating a sharp suction sound. These sounds function as phonemes in approximately two dozen languages, almost exclusively in southern and eastern Africa, with types including bilabial, dental, alveolar, palatal, and lateral variants distinguished by the forward closure's position. Clicks originated as expressive interjections in many human languages but evolved into systematic consonants through areal diffusion, notably in Khoisan languages of the Kalahari Basin and via borrowing into Bantu languages like Zulu and Xhosa, where they mark lexical distinctions without implying genetic relatedness among click-using tongues. The rarity of clicks underscores their dependence on precise oral cavity control, with acoustic profiles featuring a noisy burst followed by a formantless velar or uvular efflux, often accompanied by voice, nasalization, or aspiration. While , an initiation language of the Lardil people in , incorporated clicks until its extinction in the mid-20th century, no other non-African cases persist, highlighting Africa's unique phonetic diversity amid global linguistic trends favoring pulmonic egressive airflow. Debates persist on click genesis, with evidence favoring independent innovation from non-lexical gestures rather than deep ancestry, as diffusion patterns align with historical foraging and pastoralist interactions over millennia.

Physical and acoustic phenomena

Auditory click sound

An auditory sound constitutes a sharp, percussive arising from transient mechanical events such as between tissues, abrupt impacts, or sudden pressure equalization in air pockets. These non-vocal emissions differ from sustained tones or vibrations by their instantaneous generation and decay, often employed in human signaling for attention, disapproval, or encouragement. Representative instances encompass the palatal , wherein the adheres to the before releasing with a break, and the finger , executed by tensioning the against the thumb prior to its explosive slippage. Empirical acoustic measurements reveal clicks as high-frequency broadband transients with durations on the scale, facilitating perceptual salience amid . Tongue clicks, analyzed in echolocation contexts, exhibit durations approximating 3 ms, marked by rapid drops yielding concentrated in upper frequencies suitable for detection. Finger snaps similarly involve sub-10 ms release phases, where fingertip velocities exceed 20 m/s generate impulsive waves via localized air displacement, producing peak pressures detectable at short ranges. Such brevity—contrasting with voiced sounds exceeding 50 ms—underlies their utility in lab paradigms for probing auditory , with spectrograms showing dominant components above 1 kHz devoid of pitches. The English term "" emerged as an onomatopoeic formation in the late , directly echoing the crisp auditory quality of such events, with precedents in "clicken" and Old French "clique" denoting latch-like snaps. This imitative derivation, rather than descent from a singular Proto-Germanic tied exclusively to mechanisms, underscores cross-linguistic convergence on phonetic mimicry for percussive noises, as evidenced in comparative forms across Germanic and Romance tongues.

Mechanical clicking actions

Mechanical clicking actions arise from engineered mechanisms that store and abruptly release elastic potential energy, generating both audible clicks and tactile through rapid component acceleration. These typically involve systems, where a flexible —such as a spring-loaded pawl or toggle arm—deforms elastically under applied force until it surpasses a , then snaps into a stable position via negative or over-center . This contrasts with unintended vibrations or noises, as clicks are intentionally calibrated for precise positional confirmation, often with frequencies around 1-5 kHz for audibility and forces yielding 0.1-1 N of tactile impulse in small devices. In retractable ballpoint pens, the click originates from a thrust mechanism where pressing the compresses a and advances a barrel via inclined slots; upon sufficient travel, the rotates and locks via a clutch ring, releasing the to produce the . This snap-back ensures the tip extends or retracts reliably, with the click serving as haptic confirmation of state change, rooted in the physics of stored converting to kinetic motion over milliseconds. Toggle light switches exemplify over-center mechanisms, where the pivots past a point under manual force, allowing a bistable to accelerate the contacts into open or closed positions with a sharp from metal armature and air displacement. The design exploits for snap action, minimizing arcing in electrical circuits by ensuring sub-millisecond transition times, distinct from gradual in non-detent sliders. Ratchets produce sequential clicks via a pawl that elastically flexes over geared during unidirectional motion; each deforms the pawl tip until it slips forward, releasing stored as a brief and , preventing reverse slip through angled engagement. This confirms incremental progress in tools like wrenches, with pawl stiffness tuned for durability under torques up to 100 in industrial variants. Human-executed mechanical clicks, such as deliberate impacts in ceremonial salutes, involve biomechanical collision where lower halts abruptly upon shoe or contact, generating transient forces through and in tendons. Unlike engineered devices, these lack detents but mimic via controlled transfer, though lacking standardized metrics due to variability in execution.

Linguistics

Click consonants in languages

Click consonants serve as distinctive phonemes in approximately 70 languages worldwide, almost exclusively in southern and eastern , where they form core elements of the sound systems in language families such as the Tuu, Juu, and Khoe groups, as well as in several that acquired them through historical contact. These languages employ clicks not merely as paralinguistic noises but as contrastive consonants that differentiate meaning, as in ǃXóõ where clicks combine with other features like ejection or to yield dozens of variants. In examples like and , clicks typically number four to five per inventory and mark lexical items, such as the /ǀ/ in qhwa ("dawn") versus pulmonic stops in cognates. The production of click consonants relies on a velaric ingressive airstream mechanism, independent of pulmonic airflow from the lungs: the tongue body raises to seal the velum posteriorly while the tongue tip or blade forms an anterior closure at points like the teeth, alveolar ridge, or lips, creating a partial upon forward tongue movement; the anterior release generates the characteristic "pop" or "smack," followed by posterior release that conditions accompanying features like voicing or . Five primary anterior closure types distinguish basic clicks in the International Phonetic Alphabet: bilabial (ʘ, lip-to-lip), dental (ǀ, tongue-to-teeth), alveolar (ǃ, tongue-to-alveolar ridge), palatal (ǂ, tongue-to-hard palate), and alveolar lateral (ǁ, side-of-tongue-to-molars). These can pair with velar or uvular posterior closures and modifiers, expanding inventories; for instance, ǃXóõ distinguishes over 80 click allophones through , , and tonal contours. Acoustically, clicks produce sharp transient bursts from the anterior release, detectable in spectrograms as low-frequency perturbations and ingressive noise, setting them apart from egressive pulmonic consonants and enabling phonemic contrasts even in noisy environments typical of settings. In , clicks often comprise 20-50% of the consonant inventory, with ǃXóõ recording up to 48 distinct click phonemes alongside non-clicks, while borrowed forms show reduced systems of 10-20 clicks. This rarity—confined to less than 1% of global languages—highlights their specialized articulatory demands, as empirical phonetic studies confirm higher error rates in acquisition for non-native speakers due to the precise velaric required. The origins of click phonemes trace to proto-Khoisan stages predating 10,000 years ago, with borrowing into occurring via prehistoric contact in regions like southwestern and around 1,200-2,000 years ago, as evidenced by shared click distributions correlating with patterns. Hypotheses link their emergence to onomatopoeic adaptations mimicking animal calls or environmental sounds in societies, though direct causal evidence remains limited; acoustic uniqueness supports functional utility for signaling over distance, but systemic integration suggests deeper phonological evolution rather than isolated imitation. No clicks appear natively outside isolates like Hadza and Sandawe, underscoring contact-driven spread over independent .

Biology and natural sciences

Click beetles and entomology

Click beetles belong to the Elateridae within the order Coleoptera, comprising over 10,000 described species worldwide, many of which exhibit a distinctive clicking as an escape reflex when flipped onto their backs by predators. This behavior involves a specialized thoracic structure where a prosternal or spine rapidly slides into a mesosternal cavity or pit, releasing stored to propel the into the air with an audible snap. The resulting flip often rights the beetle, enhancing survival by disorienting threats such as or small mammals; observations confirm that this righting correlates with evasion success in simulated predation scenarios. The biomechanical process relies on the arching its body to compress flexible cuticular elements, building tension before the disengages, generating forces up to several times the insect's body weight and launching it several body lengths vertically—typically 10-20 cm for larger —accompanied by the characteristic click from the impact of thoracic segments. This , absent in non-clicking elaterids, underscores its evolutionary role in predator deterrence, as evidenced by comparative studies showing non-clickers fail to right as effectively when inverted. In , species like Athous haemorrhoidalis exemplify common click beetles, inhabiting grasslands and forests where their larvae contribute to turnover. Conversely, genera such as Agriotes, including A. lineatus, pose significant agricultural threats as wireworm larvae that damage crop roots in potatoes, cereals, and across temperate regions, leading to economic losses estimated in millions annually in affected farmlands. Ecologically, elaterid larvae aerate and decompose , promoting nutrient cycling in natural habitats, though this benefit is outweighed by pest impacts in systems. Fossils of Elateridae date to the , with definitive records from Lower Cretaceous amber deposits around 100-145 million years ago, indicating the clicking mechanism likely evolved early in the family's diversification amid predator pressures. Phylogenetic analyses suggest this trait's persistence reflects strong selective advantage for aerial escape in soil-dwelling lineages.

Military and measurement

Klick as distance unit

In , a "klick" (variant spelling of "click") refers to one kilometer, equivalent to 1,000 meters or approximately 0.621 miles. This enables concise verbal or radio reporting of distances during operations, such as denoting an enemy position as "five klicks east." The term's adoption traces to U.S. forces in the Vietnam War (1955–1975), where it shortened "kilometer" for brevity in communications, likely from the phonetic "kilo." Etymological theories include onomatopoeia from the clicking of mechanical odometers or rangefinder adjustments per kilometer traveled. Earlier attestations appear in World War I contexts among U.S. and Allied troops, predating widespread metric standardization, though definitive pre-Vietnam documentation remains sparse. Within frameworks, "klick" aligns with mandatory usage established post-World War II, facilitating among member states' forces. Its practical utility lies in rapid, unambiguous transmission under stress, outperforming in multinational settings where kilometers predominate. Field validations, including GPS cross-checks in post-1990s operations, confirm klick-reported distances match kilometer measurements to sub-meter precision, underscoring empirical reliability without reliance on outdated tools. No verifiable civilian applications predate 20th-century military contexts, confining it to operational rather than general .

Computing and digital technology

User interface interactions

In , a click denotes the electrical signal generated by the momentary depression of a switch on a , such as a or trackpad, which the operating system interprets as a input . This typically triggers actions like object selection (e.g., left ) or context menu invocation (e.g., right ), with the ensuring signal stability through debouncing—a firmware-enforced delay of 10-50 milliseconds to suppress transient bounces from the physical switch contacts that could otherwise register as unintended multiple inputs. The foundational integration of clicking into graphical user interfaces traces to Douglas Engelbart's 1964 invention of the mouse at , which enabled direct manipulation of on-screen elements, though its GUI context matured with PARC's computer in 1973, where clicks selected windows, icons, and menus in a display environment. This paradigm shifted computing from command-line inputs to visual-spatial interactions, influencing subsequent systems like the Apple Macintosh in 1984. Click variants include the , where two rapid activations within an operating system-defined interval—defaulting to 500 milliseconds in Windows—execute distinct commands, such as opening files versus mere selection, with adjustable thresholds accommodating user motor variability. Trackpad gestures extend this to multi-finger taps, but core mechanics rely on precise timing to distinguish intentional sequences from noise. Empirical studies on haptic augmentation reveal tactile vibrations simulating switch closure enhance input accuracy; for instance, optically simulated haptic cues outperform standard for small-target clicking, reducing positioning errors through sensory confirmation of completion. Haptic techniques further decrease targeting times in pointer-based tasks by guiding cursor , addressing imprecision in prolonged sessions. Such interventions mitigate barriers for users with motor impairments, where absent tactile cues correlate with higher misclick rates.

Online advertising and click metrics

In pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, advertisers pay a fee each time a user clicks on their digital ad, shifting costs from impressions to interactions and enabling targeted bidding auctions. pioneered modern PPC with the launch of AdWords on October 23, 2000, allowing campaign management and quality-score adjustments to prioritize relevant ads over highest bids. This model underpins platforms like , where clicks drive revenue estimated at over $200 billion annually for the company by 2023. Click-through rate (CTR), the ratio of clicks to impressions, benchmarks effectiveness, with search ads averaging 3.17% and display ads 0.46% across industries in recent analyses. These figures vary by sector—e.g., legal services exceed 4%, while e-commerce hovers near 2%—but aggregate data reveals most campaigns fall within 2-5%, influenced by ad position, keywords, and device type. Platforms refine metrics via machine learning, yet CTR alone masks downstream outcomes like conversions. Click fraud erodes PPC value through invalid traffic from bots, scripts, or competitors inflating costs without intent. In , fraud accounted for 22% of digital ad spend, totaling $84 billion in losses globally per Juniper Research projections. Detection relies on heuristics such as clustering, unnatural click velocities, and behavioral signals like mouse entropy, with tools from firms like CHEQ flagging up to 10% invalid traffic rates. Despite advancements, underreporting persists, as platforms refund only verified , leaving advertisers to absorb systemic waste. Empirical scrutiny questions PPC ROI, as click-to-conversion rates average 2.5-3% for and under 5% broadly, often yielding marginal returns after deductions and optimization costs. —users subconsciously ignoring ad-resembling elements—exacerbates this, with eye-tracking studies showing fixations on banners drop below 10% even for prominent placements. indicates ad fosters , diverting budgets from verifiable to illusory volume, though targeted campaigns in niche searches can achieve 200% ROI when conversions align with high-value actions.

Chemistry

Click chemistry reactions

Click chemistry refers to a class of modular, high-yielding reactions optimized for the efficient of molecular building blocks, emphasizing selectivity, simplicity, and compatibility with aqueous and biological environments. These reactions typically achieve quantitative conversions, often exceeding 95% yield, due to their thermodynamic favorability, such as the release of or gain in products, while proceeding orthogonally without interfering with surrounding functionalities. The paradigmatic click reaction is the copper(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne (CuAAC), which couples terminal azides and alkynes to form stable 1,4-disubstituted 1,2,3-triazoles under mild conditions. Independently developed by Morten Meldal and K. Barry Sharpless in 2002, CuAAC proceeds rapidly in or organic solvents with catalytic Cu(I), enabling precise and materials synthesis. For bioorthogonal applications in , where precludes use, strain-promoted azide-alkyne (SPAAC) employs cyclooctynes, leveraging internal (approximately 7-10 kcal/mol) for catalyst-free reactivity with azides, achieving second-order rate constants up to 1 M⁻¹s⁻¹ in cellular contexts. Recent innovations expand 's scope beyond carbon-nitrogen linkages. In 2023, exchange (PFEx) emerged as a catalytic method to form stable P(V)-O and P(V)-N bonds by displacing from (V) hubs with alcohols or amines, operating under ambient conditions with broad substrate tolerance and yields often surpassing 90%. applications advanced markedly in 2025, with Shasqi's phase 1/2a trials of SQ3370—the first systemic use of in humans—demonstrating tumor-selective protodrug via pretargeting, eliciting anti-tumor responses without off-target in and safety assessments.

Transportation

Airlines and aviation

Clickair was a Spanish low-cost carrier established in May 2006 as a subsidiary of Iberia, with operations commencing on October 1, 2006, from its base at Barcelona El Prat Airport. The airline operated a fleet of Airbus A320-200 aircraft, expanding to approximately 24 units by the time of its merger, though it grounded 7-8 planes in October 2008 amid weakening demand. Facing intense competition from established low-cost operators like Ryanair and Vueling, rising fuel costs during the 2008 global economic downturn, and persistent unprofitability with low cash reserves, Clickair merged with Vueling on July 8, 2009, ceasing independent operations. This consolidation aimed to form a more competitive entity in Spain's saturated short-haul market, where niche positioning failed to generate sufficient passenger volumes against larger rivals. Click Mexicana, a regional of , operated from 2005 until August 28, 2010, serving domestic routes across more than 25 Mexican cities from its hub at . It flew a fleet of 18 twinjets, offering a single-cabin "coach plus" service with leather seats at 35-inch pitch. The carrier's demise coincided with Mexicana's , driven by the parent's accumulated debts exceeding $2 billion, labor disputes, and inability to restructure amid Mexico's competitive landscape dominated by .) Regional operations like Click's highlighted limitations of feeder models reliant on a failing , with insufficient independent viability in a market favoring larger networks. Click Airways was a UAE-based founded in 2004, operating international scheduled and services from . Details on its fleet and precise cessation date are sparse, but it is listed among defunct UAE carriers, reflecting challenges in the niche sector including volatile freight and competition from integrated logistics giants. As of 2025, no major active s bearing the name "Click" operate globally, underscoring the branding's association with short-lived ventures constrained by economic pressures and market saturation.

Arts, entertainment, and media

Fictional characters and elements

In Enid Blyton's Josie, Click and Bun series, first published in picture strip form in the Sunny Stories magazine during the 1930s and 1940s, Click is a clockwork mouse character who flees a cruel owner alongside doll Josie and toy rabbit Bun, subsequently engaging in whimsical adventures such as building a tree house or attending parties. The stories emphasize themes of friendship and escapism among toys, with Click's mechanical nature enabling comedic mishaps like winding down during escapades. In the American children's educational television series , which aired from 2000 to 2010, Click the serves as a supporting character, portrayed as a hybrid computer with a live head that interacts with the lion family in a setting to demonstrate concepts. Click often facilitates computer-related segments, such as navigating digital interfaces or performing in rodent-themed musical acts like the band Mauswerk. Click appears as a titular mascot in the children's Click, published from the 1990s to the 2000s, depicted alongside as curious explorers highlighting observational skills in educational content. These instances of "Click" in predominantly feature in children's media, functioning as ancillary elements to promote learning or light-hearted narratives rather than central protagonists, with minimal broader cultural resonance beyond niche audiences.

Films

Click (2006) is an fantasy comedy film directed by , written by and Mark O'Keefe, and produced by , who stars as Michael Newman, an overworked architect dissatisfied with his life. The centers on Newman discovering a control invented by the enigmatic Morty (), which allows him to pause, rewind, fast-forward, and skip through events in his personal and professional life as if controlling a television; however, overuse leads to unintended consequences, including aging rapidly and missing key family moments, ultimately teaching him the value of living in the present. The film was released in the United States on June 23, 2006, with a of $87 million. It grossed $137.4 million domestically and $318.5 million worldwide, marking a commercial success driven by strong appeal despite a 34% approval rating from critics on , who criticized its sentimental tone and formulaic execution, contrasted with a 66% score reflecting broader popular . Click (2010) is an Indian Hindi-language supernatural directed by , serving as a of the 2004 Thai Shutter. Starring as photographer Avi and as his girlfriend Sonia, the story follows the couple encountering ghostly apparitions in photographs after accidentally hitting a with their , leading to nightmarish hauntings that unravel their lives. Released on February 19, 2010, in , the low-budget production screened on approximately 350 theaters and earned ₹24 on its opening day, ₹82 over the first weekend, and under ₹2.5 total, classifying it as a disaster. It received poor critical response, with a 20% score and 3.6/10 on , attributed to weak execution and reliance on recycled tropes. Other low-budget films titled include the 2015 Georgian thriller , directed by Levan Koguashvili, which depicts three American trapped in a minefield during a trip in the , emphasizing survival tension but garnering limited international awards or data beyond niche screenings. These lesser-known entries typically lack significant commercial or critical impact compared to the 2006 Sandler vehicle, highlighting variances in audience-driven success versus elite critical metrics in broader .

Music releases

"The song by American band was released on March 27, 2001, as the lead single from their second studio album . The track received substantial play on rock radio formats but did not achieve broad mainstream pop success, reflecting the niche appeal of early 2000s . The Click is the second studio album by American indie pop trio AJR, released on June 9, 2017, via their label AJR Productions and . The record explores themes of creative process and , with production handled primarily by the band members, though it garnered moderate commercial reception without dominating major charts. Click, featuring and , is a track by British singer from her third studio album Charli, released on September 13, 2019. The song incorporates electronic and rave elements but remained album-oriented without significant standalone chart performance. (also known as Qongqothwane), a traditional wedding song featuring click consonants, was recorded and released by South African singer in 1960 on her debut album Miriam Makeba. Makeba's version introduced the track to international audiences, highlighting African musical traditions amid her exile from apartheid-era , though it achieved cultural rather than commercial dominance. Other releases titled Click, such as the 2024 self-titled by electronic band SYSTEM EXCLUSIVE, exist but maintain limited listenership, averaging under 1 million Spotify streams per track as of late 2025, underscoring the term's sporadic use in niche genres like rock and electronic music without hits.

Television and radio programs

is a news programme that aired weekly from 6 April 2000 until its final episode on 22 March 2025, initially launched as Click Online before being shortened to Click. The series focused on , reviews, and innovations, with episodes typically exploring hardware, software developments, and their societal applications, such as advancements and concerns. Over its 25-year run, content shifted from primary emphasis on gadgets to broader examinations of 's implications, including aids and solutions like . The programme marked its 1,000th episode in 2019 with an interactive format allowing viewer-directed narratives. Its cancellation was part of journalism budget reductions, prompting the launch of a successor, Tech Now, on 29 March 2025. In the United States, was a syndicated teen-oriented that ran for two seasons from September 1997 to 1999, created by and hosted by with co-hosts Bonasso and Willenborg. The format pitted teams of teenagers against each other in quizzes and challenges themed around computers and early , reflecting the era's digital enthusiasm. No major radio programmes titled have achieved significant prominence, though minor segments or experiments like Clickradio offered ad-free music streams in the early without substantial broadcast impact.

Print media

Click Magazine, a tabloid-style pictorial publication launched in 1938 by publisher M.L. Annenberg, emphasized news photography, celebrity features, and visual storytelling akin to contemporaries like Life. It ceased publication amid the post-World War II magazine market shifts, with archival issues preserved in collections for historical photojournalism research. In the educational niche, CLICK magazine, produced by Cricket Media since the early 2000s, targets children aged 3-6 with print issues covering , , , and environmental topics through stories, activities, and illustrations. Back issues remain available for purchase, supporting its role in early literacy, though circulation figures reflect its specialized audience rather than mass-market scale. Contemporary print offerings include Click magazine from Click + Company, a bimonthly publication for amateur and professional photographers featuring tutorials, gear reviews, and inspirational imagery centered on shutter "clicks" and creative techniques. Its niche focus yields limited distribution, prioritizing community engagement over broad readership. Among books, Click: What Millions of People Are Doing Online and Why it Matters by Tancer, published in 2008 by Hyperion, analyzes search to reveal behavioral patterns, drawing from aggregated online metrics for insights into consumer habits. The young adult anthology Click, a collaborative novel by ten authors including and , appeared in 2007 from Arthur A. Levine Books, exploring teen and self-discovery through linked narratives. Kayla Miller's Click, the inaugural graphic novel in her middle-grade series (Clarion Books, 2019), depicts fifth-grader navigating friendships via school play participation, with subsequent print volumes expanding the arc. These works, often self-contained or series starters, maintain modest sales in genre-specific markets without achieving bestseller status.

People

Notable individuals with the surname

"Click" (born July 25, 1957, in ) is an politician and member of the who represented District C in the from 2013 to 2025. , who has resided in for over 60 years, previously worked in construction, aviation, and mining industries across the state, including roles in the . In May 2025, he announced his candidacy for of in the 2026 election, emphasizing priorities such as resource development and fiscal responsibility during statewide listening sessions. James "Jim" Click Sr. (born circa 1930s) is an American automotive executive and who founded the Jim Click Automotive Group in , in 1971, growing it into one of the largest dealership chains in the Southwest with operations in and California. By 2012, the group ranked as the 47th largest dealer chain in the United States. Click's philanthropy includes founding the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tucson, serving over 5,000 at-risk youth annually, and major donations to the , such as endowing the Jim Click Hall of Champions athletics facility opened in 2003. His estimated reached $850 million as of recent assessments, derived primarily from automotive sales and .

Other uses

Companies and brands

Click Therapeutics, Inc., founded in 2012, develops and commercializes prescription digital therapeutics targeting unmet medical needs, including behavioral interventions delivered via mobile apps. In April 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted marketing authorization for its CT-132 product, the first such digital therapeutic approved for preventive treatment of episodic migraine in adults, based on two sham-controlled Phase 3 trials demonstrating a statistically significant reduction in monthly migraine days over 12 weeks when used adjunctively with standard care. While short-term trial endpoints were met, long-term efficacy and adherence data remain limited, contributing to ongoing debates in the digital therapeutics sector about sustained clinical value versus placebo effects in app-based interventions. The company reported estimated annual revenue of approximately $40.5 million as of recent analyses, supported by a $48.5 million funding round in early 2025, though profitability challenges persist amid high development costs and market skepticism toward unproven digital health scalability. ClickHouse, Inc., established as an independent entity in September 2021 through a from , specializes in an open-source column-oriented database management system (DBMS) optimized for analytical processing of large datasets. The underlying technology originated as an internal project around 2009 for and was publicly released under the 2.0 license in 2016, enabling rapid adoption for high-speed querying in environments. By 2025, the company achieved a valuation exceeding $6 billion following substantial venture funding, reflecting strong enterprise demand despite competition from established DBMS providers. Other entities include ad technology firms such as ClickMeter, founded in 2006, which offers and click-tracking services for performance marketing campaigns, though it operates on a smaller scale with limited public financial disclosures. These companies generally face sector-specific risks, including dependency on spend cycles and regulations impacting tracking efficacy.

Miscellaneous terms

In linguistics, clicks are consonants articulated with an ingressive , involving the formation of two closures in the vocal tract followed by the release of a rarefied air pocket, producing a characteristic sharp sound. These sounds occur as phonemes in certain languages primarily spoken in , where they contrast meaningfully within words. In , a agreement is a type of requiring the user to affirmatively click a or —typically labeled "I agree"—to indicate of specified terms, such as end-user license agreements or privacy policies. The concept emerged in the mid-1990s alongside widespread , evolving from physical shrinkwrap licenses that bound users upon opening . Enforceability depends on factors like conspicuous presentation of terms and unambiguous user action, with U.S. courts upholding them in cases such as Caspi v. Microsoft Network (1996), where a selection was validated due to explicit during signup.