A gear lever, also known as a gear stick or shifter, is a component in vehicles that allows the driver to change gears in a manual transmission system. It is typically located in the center console and is used to select different gear ratios, enabling the vehicle to accelerate or decelerate effectively. The gear lever is connected to the transmission, which translates the driver's input into mechanical movement. In automatic vehicles, the gear lever serves a similar purpose but operates differently. Instead of manually selecting gears, the driver can shift between modes like Park, Reverse, Neutral, and Drive. The vehicle's onboard computer automatically manages gear changes based on speed and engine load, providing a smoother driving experience.