Structure of Keyboard | Keyboard Keys

Keyboard is the essential part of computer because without keyboard, we cannot give command/instruction or data to the computer. Keyboard is an input device that is used to give data to the computer. In this tutorial, we will discuss Structure of keyboard, all keyboard keys in the keyboard and all shortcut keys.

Keyboard Buttons

Escape Key

Used when we want to cancel, change or abort the operation, exit full screen, closing a pop up window.

Function Keys

It is labeled as “F1” to “F12” on a keyboard. It has the specific predefined function in various software or operating system. It is normally used for shortcut command such as saving file, opening help menu, refreshing a web page etc. depending on the software in which they are used. Function of all “F1” to “F12” are: –

F1: – Typically used for help. In many programs, when we press F1, It will open a help window.
F2: – Often used to rename a file or folder. Selecting a file or folder and pressing F2 allow you to rename the file or folder.
F3: – Often used for searching. When we press F3, Find box is open and we can find any text within a specific page/program. It works same as ctrl+F.
F4: – This key varies depending upon the program. Typically, (i) when we press the F4 in edge browser, It will move the cursor to address bar, (ii) In some programs, It can be used to repeat last action, (iii) In windows, It can be used with Alt key to close the current window and to shutdown the computer.
F5: – Commonly used to refresh. In some program, It can also be used to open slideshow or update the content.
F6: – Often used for navigating. In web browser, when we press the F6, the cursor will move to the address bar. In some browser, pressing F6 repeatedly can cycle through different elements in the page like Tab key.
F7: – Used for spell checking. In word processing software, when we press F7 spell check will start.
F8: – Often used for booting into the safe mode in windows. Depending on the program, It works differently.
F9: – To refresh a document in ms-word and to send and receive email in outlook.
F10: – To activate the menu bar. By pressing F10, menu bar will select. Allow you to navigate and select menu option without using the mouse.
F11: – Typically used for full screen. When we press F11, We enter into the full screen mode and F11 is also used to exit full screen mode.
F12: – Typically used to open developer console in browser. It will also open save as dialogue box in ms-word.

Navigation keys

It is used to move around a document, web page or other interface. These includes the following keys: –

Prt Sc: – shortcut to take screenshot or to print screen.
Scr Lk (Scroll Lock): – It modifies the behavior of the arrow keys to scroll the content of a window rather than moving the cursor.
Pause Break: – To temporarily pause the command or process that is running.
Insert: – It toggles between typing mode and and overwrite mode. When we press the Insert key, We have entered into overwrite mode now when we write any sentence or work, It will overwrite the previous content to new.
Home: – In word processing software, When we press Home key, then the cursor will move into beginning of current line. In web browser, by pressing Home key, It will scroll to the top of the web page.
PageUp: – It is used to scroll up one page at a time in a webpage or document.
Delete: – Used to delete the character to the right of the cursor in a text.
End: – In word processing software, by pressing End, the cursor will move to the end of the current line. In web browser, It will scroll down to the end of the page.
PgDn: – It is used to scroll down one page at a time in a webpage or document.
Arrow keys: – It contains 4 keys, Up, Down, Left, Right. When we press “Up” key in the keyboard, it moves the cursor or selection to up by one line. When we press “Down” key in the keyboard, it moves the cursor or selection to down by one line. When we press “Left” arrow then it moves the cursor or selection to left by one character. When we press “Right” arrow then it moves the cursor or selection to right by one character.

4.) Calculation keys: – Typically, It is used for calculation purpose.

5.) Alphabets keys: – Used to press alphabets.

6.) Numbers keys: – Used to press numbers. It also contains symbols that is used with “Shift” key.

Special Keys or Control keys

It is typically used for shortcut commands and control the behaviour of computer or specific application. This includes following keys: –

Ctrl: – Used with combination with other key. Like ctrl+C for copy, ctrl+V for Paste etc.
Shift: – It is also used with combination. It is used with alphabet to write characters in capital if caps lock is off and in small if caps lock is on. It is also used with the combination with others to write symbols that is above the specific key typically in numbers key.
CapsLock: – If it is On the all letters will write in capital and if it is off then all letters will write in small.
Alt: – Used to enable alternate keyboard function or shortcuts. In many application like web browser, when we press Alt, Menu bar will be selected. Also used for many keyboard shortcut.
Enter: – In wordpressing software, It will create a new line. In web browsers, In form filling, by pressing the enter, Form will be submitted. In dialogue box, by pressing enter key, confirm the selected action.
Backspace: – It will delete a character from the left of the cursor.

Shortcut keys | Shortcut commands

Window shortcut

Window: – Start button
Window+A: – Opens the action center where wifi, bluetooth, and speaker can be accessed in windows 11.
Window+B: – Select the shoe more icon button in the taskbar in window 11.
Window+C: – Opens the capilot chat in window 11.
Window+D: – Go to desktop.
Window+E: – Open the file explorer
Window+F: – Opens the feedback hub in window 11.
Window+G: – Opens the XBox in window 11.
Window+H: – It will open the speech service in windows 11.
Window+I: – It will open the setting in windows.
Window+K: – Opens the cast that is used to connect other display in window 11.
Window+L: – Used to Lock the computer.
Window+M: – Used to minimize the current window.
Window+N: – Opens the notification bar.
Window+Q: – Used to open window search.
Window R: – Open the Run Dialogue Box.
Window+S: – Used to open window search.
Window+T: – Select 1st icon on the taskbar.
Window+U: – Open the accessibility setting.
Window+V: – Used to open clipboard to copy and paste last written text and also to insert emoji.
Window+W: – Opens the news page of edge browser.
Window+X: – Same as right click on start button.
Window+Shift+S: – Screenshot
Window+Right/left Arrow: – Align Left/Rigth the current window.

CTRL shortcut

Ctrl+A: – All select
Ctrl+B: – Bold
Ctrl+C: – copy
Ctrl+D: – Duplicate and Font option in word processing software and add to bookmark the current page in web browser.
Ctrl+E: – Align center in word processing software and search box in web browser.
Ctrl+F: – Find
Ctrl+G: – Go to
Ctrl+H: – Replace
Ctrl+I: – Italic text
Ctrl+J: – Justify in word processing software and go to downloads in web browser.
Ctrl+K: – Hyperlink
Ctrl+L: – Left align
Ctrl+M: – Indent paragraph
Ctrl+N: – New Window
Ctrl+O: – Open file
Ctrl+P:- Print the current page
Ctrl+Q: – quite
Ctrl+R: – Right align
Ctrl+S: – save as
Ctrl+T: – Hanging indent in word processing software and new tab in web browser.
Ctrl+U: – Underline text.
Ctrl+V: – Paste
Ctrl+W: – Close page. Close current tab in web browser.
Ctrl+X: – Cut
Ctrl+Y: – Redo
Ctrl+Z: – Undo
Ctrl+shift+T: – Restore closed tab in web browser
Ctrl+Shift+Tab: – Cycle between opened tab in web browser.

Alt Shortcut

Alt+Left Arrow: – Goes back to the previous history.
Alt+Right Arrow: – Goes forward to the previous history.
Alt+Tab: – Switch between the opened applications.
Alt+PageUp: – Scroll up the entire screen.
Alt+PageDown: – Scroll down the entire screen.

📣 Follow us for more updates:

Follow on LinkedIn Join WhatsApp Channel