Designers can replace some electro-mechanical contacts with a magnet and Hall-effect switch. The overall mechanical structure can stay the same, but the potential for wear and tear decreases when you remove the metal contacts.

Figure 2-2 Hall-Effect Push Button Stackup Example

Hall-effect sensors work by sensing the strength of the magnetic field and Hall based switches provide a digital output when the magnetic field strength is over a specified threshold. Similar to Hall switches, reed switches also provide a digital output based on the magnetic field, but reed switches still have the mechanical contact in them that can wear down over time. Hall-effect switches come in a variety of options for different thresholds and directional sensitivities to enable design diversity. Devices like the TMAG5328 even have a resistor adjustable threshold that allows for easy mechanical design adjustments or swapping out the magnet used.