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Computer Keyboard Terminology

=== by Bob Sutherland ===

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Do you know the names of the keys on your computer keyboard? This web page lists the action keys found on the computer keyboard.

Action Keys

The following keys will cause some action to happen when you type them. They do not type a visible character on your screen but they may type an invisible character such as a space, tab or end of paragraph character.

A wide computer key without any markings. Space bar. The widest key on the keyboard. It is designed to be pressed by your thumbs.

A computer key marked with a the letters Esc. A computer key marked with a the letters esc. Esc key. Esc is an abbreviation for escape.

A computer key marked with a the words Pause Break. Pause break key. On Windows keyboards this key is used to temporarily pause or completely stop a program that is running.

A computer key marked with a the words Print Screen. Print screen key. On Windows keyboards this key is used to print the file that is open on your screen.

A computer key marked with an eject symbol. Eject key. On Macintosh computers this key is used to unmount and eject external storage devices such as DVDs and USB thumb drives.

A computer key marked with a the word Clear. Clear key. When the numeric keypad is being used with a calculator application this key is used to clear the memory after performing a calculation.

A computer key marked with a bent arrow pointing down and to the left. A computer key marked with a bent arrow pointing down and to the left. A computer key marked with a the word Enter. A computer key marked with a the word enter. A computer key marked with a the word return. Carriage return; CR; Return; Enter key. There are two keys on the keyboard that may be labelled the same or different. One is in the bottom right corner of the numeric keypad while the other is on the right side of the main alphanumeric keyboard. Depending on the whims of the computer programmers who created each software program the two keys may be interchangeable performing the same function or assigned to perform different functions.

A computer key marked with a the double arrow symbol for tab. A computer key marked with a the word Tab. A computer key marked with a the word tab. Tab key.

A computer key marked with a left pointing delete arrow. A computer key marked with a the word Backspace. A computer key marked with a the letters Del. A computer key marked with a the word Delete. A computer key marked with a the word delete. Backspace key; Delete key. On some historical keyboards such as the Icon computers developed for Ontario schools this was labelled the Rubout key. Characters are deleted to the left of the cursor.

A computer key marked with a right pointing delete arrow. Forward delete symbol. Characters are deleted to the right of the cursor.

A computer key marked with a the letters Ins. A computer key marked with a the word Insert. Insert key.

A computer key marked with a the word Home. A computer key marked with a the word home. Home key. Pressing this key usually scrolls you to the beginning of the line or the beginning of the file.

A computer key marked with a the word End. A computer key marked with a the word end. End key. Pressing this key usually scrolls you to the end of the line or the end of the file.

A computer key marked with a the letters Pg Up. A computer key marked with a the words Page Up. A computer key marked with a the words pageup. Page up key. Pressing this key causes your screen to scroll up one page.

A computer key marked with a the letters Pg Dn. A computer key marked with a the words Page Down. A computer key marked with a the words page down. Page down key. Pressing this key causes your screen to scroll down one page.

A computer key marked with a the Windows menu key symbol. Menu key; Application key. Found on Windows PC keyboards.