To enter text into a computer, you use a keyboard. Learn about the different types of keyboards and the typical layout of the keys. If you are doing a lot of typing, it is a good idea to get familiar with all of its special functions.
Description
A computer keyboard is an input device used to enter characters and functions into the computer system by pressing buttons, or keys. It is the primary device used to enter text. A keyboard typically contains keys for individual letters, numbers and special characters, as well as keys for specific functions. A keyboard is connected to a computer system using a cable or a wireless connection.
Typical keyboard for a desktop computer
 |
Most keyboards have a very similar layout. The individual keys for letters, numbers and special characters are collectively called the character keys. The layout of these keys is derived from the original layout of keys on a typewriter. The most widely used layout in the English language is called QWERTY, named after the sequence of the first six letters from the top left.
Other sets of keys common to almost all keyboards are entering and editing keys (e.g., Enter, Delete, Insert), modifier keys (e.g., Control, Shift), navigation keys (e.g., arrows for up, down, left, right) and lock keys (e.g., Caps Lock). Additional keys are very operating system specific (such as the Windows and Apple keys).
Most keyboards also include a set of function keys at the top (F1, F2, etc.). The function keys typically perform a very specific task within a particular software application. So, what they do may depend on what you are doing on your computer at the time.
Most keyboards for desktop computers also contain a separate numeric keypad to the right. Even though there are numeric keys already in a row near the top, having them all close together makes it faster to enter numeric data. On smaller keyboards, like those on most laptops, these numeric keypads are typically no longer present due to space constraints.
Here, you can see a typical keyboard layout. Keep in mind that there are many different variations on this layout, although most manufacturers follow this general pattern:
Standard layout of keys
 |
However, this general layout has remained remarkably unchanging over the years. This has made it easy for users to transition from one computer system to the next and to use their typing skills on multiple devices.
For many tasks, you need to press more than one key at the same time. For example, to get a capital letter 'A,' you need to press the Shift key and the A key at the same time. When reading or writing instructions for how to accomplish a particular task, this would be described as 'Shift + A.' As another example, in most software applications, Ctrl + S means to save the current document. If you have been using computers for some time, you are probably familiar with a number of such combinations.
Want to know the most famous combination of all? Ctrl + Alt + Del, also referred to as Control-Alt-Delete. In older computer systems, this actually rebooted your computer. Sort of like pulling the power cord and plugging it back in again. In more modern versions of the Windows operating system, the combination brings up options to log off or shut down, as well as options to force a particular software application to quit. This is useful if you are not able to exit an application in a regular fashion.
The famous Control-Alt-Delete combination
 |
Working With Different Languages
Keyboards are language specific. While most keyboards around the world will also contain regular English characters, they may contain separate keys for commonly used characters in their local language that are not used in English, such as the accented letters in French. In addition, languages like Japanese that use a totally different set of characters need unique keys for those characters. Users can then switch between their own language and English characters.
Layout of a Japanese keyboard
Write function of every keys of keyboard in details with their names.
A computer key that you press together with another key so that the other key does something different from what it usually does. You can also refer to this key simply as Alt.
Arrow Key
One of four computer keys marked with an up, down, left, or right arrow, used for moving the cursor.
Backspace
The key that you press on a keyboard to move one space backwards in a document.
Caps Lock
A key on a computer keyboard that makes all the keys produce capital letters.
Character Set
A complete set of letters, numbers, or symbols that can be used by a computer.
Command Key
On some computers, a key that you press together with another key to make the computer do a particular thing.
Control
The control key on a computer keyboard.
Control Key
A key on a computer keyboard that is used in combination with other keys for doing particular operations. This key is usually marked ‘Ctrl’.
ctrl abbreviation control: the control key on a computer keyboard.
Delete Key
A computer key that removes characters. This key is sometimes simply referred to as del.
Enter Key
A key on a computer keyboard that makes the computer perform an action or start a new line of writing.
Escape
The escape key on a computer.
Escape Key
A key on a computer keyboard that allows someone to stop an action, leave a program, or return to a previous menu. This key is usually marked ‘Esc’.
Function Key
A special button on a computer keyboard that is used for a particular operation in a program. The keys near the top of a keyboard marked ‘F1’ to ‘F12’ are function keys.
Hot Key
A key on a computer keyboard that provides a short way of performing a set of actions
Key
One of the parts that you press on a keyboard to make it produce letters, numbers etc.
Keypad
The part at the side of a computer keyboard that has number keys and arrow keys on it.
Numeric Keypad
The part of a computer keyboard to the right of the main keys that has keys with numbers on them.
Num Lock
A computer key that you press to make the number keys below it enter numbers and not be used for moving up and down a document.
Pound Key
American the hash key on a telephone keypad or computer keyboard.
Return
A return key.
Return key
A key on a computer keyboard that makes the computer perform an action or start a new line of writing.
Shift
Computing a shift key on a computer keyboard.
Shift Key
The key that you press on a computer keyboard when you want to write a capital letter.
Short Cut
Computing a computer icon or a combination of keys on the keyboard such as ‘Alt + C’ that helps you to do something on the computer more quickly, for example go to a particular program or copy information.
Space Bar
The long narrow bar at the front of a computer keyboard that you press to make a space between words when you are typing.
Star key
The key with the asterisk symbol (*) on a telephone keypad or computer keyboard.
Tab
Computing a button on a computer keyboard or typewriter that you press to move several spaces along the same line.
Tab key
A tab on a computer keyboard.
Toggle
Computing a key or command (=instruction) on a computer that you use to move from one operation or program to another and back again.
Touchpad
Computing a small flat surface on a laptop computer that you touch with your finger in order to move the cursor on the screen.
What is an Operating System? » Computer Shortcut Keys and their Functions » Keyboard Function Keys
Short Stories for Kids - Moral Stories – English Short Stories for Children - Moral Stories for Kids - Stories for Kids - Funny Story for Kids - Scary Stories for Kids - Really Funny Short Stories - Bedtime Stories
Powerful Motivational Quotes for Students » Success Quotes » English Short Stories for Kids
10 keys from a keyboard and their functions
100 function keys shortcuts
100 keyboard shortcuts (windows) - computers
100 shortcut keys computer
100 shortcut keys in computer
22 best keyboard shortcuts
30 shortcut keys computer
30 shortcut keys in computer
50 shortcut keys computer
50 shortcut keys computer pdf
50 shortcut keys of ms excel
50 shortcut keys of ms office
50 shortcut keys of ms word
a to z keyboard shortcut keys and system commands
all control keys and uses
all key functions explained
all short cut keys in computer
all shortcut keys
basic pc shortcut keys
computer keyboard function keys and their functions
computer keyboard functions explained
computer keyboard keys and their functions
computer keyboard keys and their functions pdf
computer keyboard keys and their functions ppt
computer keyboard keys description
computer keyboard shortcut a-z
computer keyboard shortcut keys
computer keyboard shortcuts
computer short key list
computer shortcut keys
computer shortcut keys and meanings
computer shortcut keys for windows 7
computer shortcut keys free download
computer shortcut keys in hindi
computer shortcut keys list
computer shortcut keys pdf
computer shortcuts and tricks pdf
control key
control key shortcuts
control keys and their functions
control keys in computer a-z
create keyboard shortcuts windows 10
ctrl b
ctrl i
ctrl keys a-z
ctrl l
ctrl z
describe the at least 10 shortcut keys of msword
different keys of keyboard and their functions
different parts of the keyboard and its functions
different types of keys in keyboard
draw keyboard and its key with their function
f12 key function
five functions of keyboard
from keyboard function keys
from shortcut keys and their functions
full screen shortcut windows
function key of computer
function key shortcuts
function keys of keyboard f1-f12
function keys on keyboard
function keys shortcuts
function keys windows 10
function keys windows 7
function of keyboard in computer
function of keyboard keys
function of the shortcut keys on a computer system
functions of computer keyboard keys
functions of different keys of keyboard
functions of every key
functions of every key - keys on the computer keyboard and their functions
functions of keyboard
functions of keys in a keyboard
how many function keys in keyboard
keyboard function keys
keyboard function keys and their functions
keyboard function keys names
keyboard function keys pdf
keyboard keys and their functions
keyboard keys functions
keyboard keys names
keyboard shortcut dictionary and glossary ctrl, shift, alt, f1
keyboard shortcut for save
keyboard shortcuts
keyboard shortcuts for windows - microsoft support
keyboard shortcuts in windows 10
keys and their functions in the keyboard
keys on the computer keyboard and their functions
meaning of computer shortcut control +b
mention 5 shortcut and their usage
microsoft - windows keyboard shortcuts overview
mouse function
ms word 2010 shortcut keys pdf
ms word shortcut keys pdf
parts of computer keyboard and their functions
parts of keyboard and their functions
parts of keyboard and their functions pdf
save as shortcut key
save as shortcut word
shortcut keys
shortcut keys and their functions | computer shortcuts for keyboard
shortcut keys and their functions, keyboard shortcuts
shortcut keys for excel
shortcut keys for windows 10
shortcut keys for windows 7
shortcut keys in computer keyboard from a to z pdf
shortcut keys in ms word
shortcut keys of computer
shortcut keys of computer a to z
shortcut keys of computer a to z pdf
shortcut keys of computer keyboard download
shortcut keys of ms excel
shortcut keys of ms office
shortcut keys of ms word 2007
shortcut keys of ms word 2010
special keys on keyboard and their functions
special keys, keyboard shortcuts, function keys and hotkeys
state the functions of each key on a computer
the controls in computer and their functions
the f keys on a keyboard are numbered 1 to 12
the keys of the keyboard and their functions
useful microsoft word keyboard shortcuts: ctrl a-z and others
useful shortcuts
what is the use of the function keys f1 f12?
windows 10 keyboard shortcuts not working
windows 10 keyboard shortcuts shutdown
windows 10 keyboard shortcuts turn off
windows 10 shortcut keys pdf download
windows 10 shortcuts cheat sheet
windows hotkeys custom
windows system key combinations
write the function of the following shortcut key ctrl + a? answer
 |
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Membe
Hello, my name is Jack Sparrow. I'm a 50 year old self-employed Pirate from the Caribbean.
No comments:
Post a Comment