Amazon made a real-life button for instant orders around your home, and it's only now added it to the site

The physical versions are arguably more useful, as they allow you to shop without firing up your computer

Much of the intrigue around the physical Dash button has been generated by the product’s sheer weirdness

Amazon is virtualising its Dash buttons, allowing shoppers to order items with the click of a mouse rather than the push of a button.

Though it’s a logical decision, it still seems an unusual one, as much of the intrigue around physical Dash buttons has been generated by the product’s sheer weirdness. Physical Dash buttons are arguably more useful too, as they allow you to shop without having to fire up Amazon on your computer or smartphone first.

For the uninitiated, the Dash button is a small, Wi-Fi-connected piece of hardware you can stick anywhere in your house, and use to order a specific product from a specific brand with a single push of a button.

A Gillette Dash button stuck to your bathroom mirror, for instance, will allow you to order your favourite Gillette goods from Amazon, while an Andrex Dash button attached to the wall next to your toilet will get you your loo roll of choice.

Virtual Dash buttons, which look like physical Dash buttons, have recently started appearing on the Amazon.com home page, as well as the Amazon app.

It appears that the company is automatically creating Dash buttons for the products you either ordered recently or order frequently, with an Amazon spokesman telling Recode that Prime members can create a virtual one-click button for tens of millions of products available for Prime delivery through the new ‘Add to your Dash buttons’ option.

Unlike physical Dash buttons, it’s completely free to get your hands on a virtual Dash button. That said, while physical Dash buttons cost £4.99 each, they’re essentially free because Amazon will wipe £4.99 off your first order.