A computer keyboard is one of the primary input devices used with a computer that looks similar to those found on electric typewriters, but with some additional keys. Keyboards allow you to input letters, numbers, and other symbols into a computer that often function as commands.
The following image shows a 104-key Saitek keyboard with indicators pointing to each of the major key sections of a keyboard including the control keys, function keys, LED indicators, wrist pad, arrow keys, and keypad.
Keyboard interfaces:
Today, most desktop computer keyboards connect to the computer using either USB or Bluetooth for wireless communication. Before USB, a computer may have used PS/2 or AT (Din5) as a keyboard interface.
Types of keyboards:
Today, most keyboards are similar to each other but may be missing one or more of the sections mentioned earlier (e.g. the keypad). Where keyboards begin to differ the most is with the keyboard layout.
Dvorak keyboard:
Developed in 1936 and patented on May 12, 1936, the Dvorak keyboard has all vowels and punctuation marks on the left side of the keyboard and consonants on the right side. Due to the placement of keys on the home row and the adoption of the letters to the English language, many Dvorak keyboard users type faster than those using the QWERTY keyboard. Below is a picture of the layout of a Dvorak keyboard.
QWERTY keyboard:
Alternatively referred to as the Sholes keyboard, the QWERTY keyboard was invented by Christopher Sholes, who has issued a patent for a typewriter on July 14, 1868. The QWERTY keyboard is named after the first five letter keys located under the row of number keys on the keyboard and is the official computer keyboard standard (ISO 9995).
Today, the QWERTY keyboard is the most commonly found and used a computer keyboard in the United States. Below is an image of the keyboard keys layout on the QWERTY keyboard.
keys are on a computer keyboard:
Although there is not a single set of rules dictating the number of keys on a keyboard, most companies use the PC keyboard with 104 keys as a de facto standard. There have been many different manufacturers over the years, so the number of keys varies from model to model. This document contains the counts for many of the more common types of keyboards in their respective classes.
IBM/PC keyboards:
- Original IBM PC Keyboard (1981) - 83 keys
- Updated IBM PC Keyboard (1984) - 84 keys
- AT Keyboard - 84 keys
- AT Enhanced Keyboard - 101 keys
- US Traditional Keyboard - 101 keys
- Enhanced European Keyboard - 102 keys
- Windows Keyboard - 104 keys
- Windows-based Laptop Keyboard - 86 keys
Apple keyboards:
- Apple Keyboard with Numeric Keypad - 109 keys
- Apple Wireless Keyboard - 78 keys
- Apple MacBook Air laptop - 78 keys
Miscellaneous keyboards:
Other keyboard configurations may include more than 104 keys.
| Key/Symbol | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Windows | PC keyboards have a Windows key that looks like a four-pane window |
| Command | Apple Mac computers have a command key. |
| Menu | PC keyboards also have a Menu key that looks like a cursor pointing to a menu. |
| Esc | (Escape) key |
| F1 - F12 | Information about the F1 through F12 keyboard keys. |
| Tab | Tab key |
| Caps lock | Caps lock key |
| Shift | Shift key |
| Ctrl | Ctrl (Control) key |
| Fn | Fn (Function) key |
| Alt | Alt (Alternate) key (PC Only; Mac users have Option key) |
| Spacebar | Spacebar key |
| Arrows | Up, Down, Left, Right Arrow keys |
| Back Space | Back space (or Backspace) key |
| Delete | Delete or Del key |
| Enter | Enter key |
| Prt Scrn | Print screen key |
| Scroll lock | Scroll lock key |
| Pause | Pause key |
| Break | Break key |
| Insert | Insert key |
| Home | Home key |
| Page up | Page up or pg up key |
| Page down | Page down or pg dn key |
| End | End key |
| Num Lock | Num Lock key |
| ~ | Tilde |
| ` | Acute, Back quote, grave, grave accent, left quote, open quote, or a push |
| ! | Exclamation mark, Exclamation point, or Bang |
| @ | Ampersat, Arobase, Asperand, At, or At symbol |
| # | Octothorpe, Number, Pound, sharp, or Hash |
| £ | Pounds Sterling or Pound symbol |
| € | Euro |
| $ | Dollar sign or generic currency |
| ¢ | Cent sign |
| ¥ | Chinese/Japenese Yuan |
| § | Micro or Section |
| % | Percent |
| ° | Degree |
| ^ | Caret or Circumflex |
| & | Ampersand, Epershand, or And |
| * | Asterisk and sometimes referred to as star. |
| ( | Open parenthesis |
| ) | Close parenthesis |
| - | Hyphen, Minus or Dash |
| _ | Underscore |
| + | Plus |
| = | Equal |
| { | Open Brace, squiggly brackets, or curly bracket |
| } | Close Brace, squiggly brackets, or curly bracket |
| [ | Open bracket |
| ] | Closed bracket |
| | | Pipe, Or, or Vertical bar |
| \ | Backslash or Reverse Solidus |
| / | Forward slash, Solidus, Virgule, or Whack |
| : | Colon |
| ; | Semicolon |
| " | Quote, Quotation mark, or Inverted commas |
| ' | Apostrophe or Single Quote |
| < | Less Than or Angle brackets |
| > | Greater Than or Angle brackets |
| , | Comma |
| . | Period, dot or Full Stop |
| ? | Question Mark |
Function Keys:
F1: Universal Help Key
F2: Commonly used to rename In Windows
F3: Opens a Search feature
F4: Open Find Window
F5: Refresh/reload the page
F6: Move cursor to the Address Bar
F7: Spell Check
F8: To enter the windows start up menu while booting
F9: Opens the measurements toolbar
F10: Activates the menu bar of an open application
F11: Full Screen mode
F12: Open the save as windows in MS Word
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