Keyboard is the primary means of user input to a computer. In English, it is indicated by the word keyboard - "keypad." The classic version of the keyboard has 101 or 102 buttons. Manufacturers of computer peripherals are constantly improving keyboards. Therefore , the computer keyboard, layout, hot keys, symbols, signs can be located on different models of these devices in different ways.
For the convenience of exploring the possibilities of keyboard data entry, all keys can be divided into segments, each of which is responsible for certain functions.
Number and letter keys
The keyboard and keys on it, used to enter texts and commands, occupy most of this peripheral device. Most of the buttons on the front side of the image are numbers, letters, punctuation marks or special icons. By default, all letters you enter are lowercase, that is, small. Each button has an image of the letter of the English alphabet, next to it is the letter of the Russian alphabet. Sometimes there are three characters, for example, to make it more convenient to enter text in the Ukrainian language, for example, a button with the English letter S denotes both the Russian letter "s" and Ukrainian "i", depending on the chosen input language.
The second row at the top is occupied by buttons for entering numbers. As with letter keys, on the front surface of each, in addition to numbers, there are certain characters that are often found in various texts. To switch to printing these characters, you need to use the service keys.
Number and letter keys are considered basic. You can find out which keys are special on the keyboard - they are not responsible for direct alphanumeric data input, but help the user to work with information.
General purpose of special keys
The name of the special keys on the keyboard corresponds to their main functions. All kinds of keys can be divided into several categories.
- Keys for executing utility commands.
- Keys for editing.
- Special keys.
- Keys for performing various functions.
- Keys with which you can control the cursor.
- Additional (auxiliary) buttons.
Keyboard Shortcuts
There are five service buttons on the keyboard: Shift, Caps Lock, Ctrl, Num Lock, Alt. These special keys on the keyboard change the usual purpose of the other buttons, so they are also called modifier keys.
The default Shift button is for capitalization. If you press Shift while the Caps Lock indicator is on, letters will be printed in lower case. The Shift key is also designed to control the cursor, by pressing this button and the arrow keys, you can move it on the monitor.
The Caps Lock button (full name capitals lock) is used to constantly change letters from lowercase to uppercase and vice versa. If you need to enter large text in capital letters, you can use the Caps Lock button. If you press this key once, the indicator on the right will light up, and all letters in the text will be typed in capital letters. By double pressing the indicator goes out, and the letters are printed as uppercase.
The Ctrl (Control) key is a button that converts the specified parameter values, its functions are manually registered and may differ depending on the program selected by the user.
The Num Lock button is for simplified entry of digital parameters. Translated from English as fixing numbers. With a single press, the corresponding indicator lights up, and the number keys on the right side of the keyboard become available. When the Num Lock value is off, the keys on the right side perform the cursor control function.
Thus, the indicator helps to determine which special keys on the keyboard are on and whether Caps Lock and Num lock are in working mode.
The Alt (alternate) button, like the Ctrl key described above, changes the options for other keys. As a rule, it expands the capabilities of other keyboard buttons; its narrow values can also vary from program to program. Literal translation from English - alternation, change. In addition, in some programs, the left and right Alt are responsible for different tasks and do not duplicate each other.
The Print Screen button will help you take a picture of the image on the display and save it as an image.
The Pause Break button is used to pause loading the OS or downloading files and applications.
Editing Keys
The purpose of the special keys on the keyboard is to facilitate the user’s work in text programs and editors.
The Space button is a long key located in the bottom row of the keyboard. The name of the key speaks for itself - a space is designed to separate words, characters and numbers from each other.
The Backspace button is responsible for deleting characters and symbols to the left of the cursor. It also serves to return to a previously opened browser page or to the previous screen in the program.
The Delete button is responsible for deleting characters to the right of the cursor, removes selected areas of text, tables or images to the basket.
Insert button - switches the keyboard to replacement mode. This button is intended for text input. The start of editing is determined by the agreed point of insertion and replacement of the already entered text with the copied one. For example, if you want to select the desired area in the table and paste it into another database, use the key combination Insert + Ctrl to select the desired part of the table, Shift + Insert to insert this area in the desired location.
Function keys
Functional keys are special keys on the keyboard that are located in the very top row. They are designated as a series of keys from F1 to F12. Each individual button is designed to perform specific options in a particular program. The purpose of each button is prescribed separately. For example, when working with Word documents, the F7 key checks the spelling using a dictionary, F5 performs the “find and replace” option, and F12 offers ways to save the document.
The exception is the F1 key - when you click on the monitor, help information is displayed that facilitates the work with this program or operating system.
Special keys
The Esc button cancels the last user action. The name of the key translates as "escape, escape." The main option of the key is to return the program to its previous state, or exit the running application. Sometimes it helps if the program stops responding to a user’s request.
The Enter button is used to confirm a command, enter it, launch installed programs and applications. In a text editor, pressing the key moves the cursor to a new line.
Tab button (tab) is convenient when working with tables, serves to move from column to column. In text editors, it is used to indent. In various programs and games, various functions can be assigned to this key.
Cursor keys
The cursor keys are located between the alphabetic and the shortened numeric keypad. First of all, these are the keys on which the arrows are drawn. When a key is pressed, the cursor moves one position according to the direction indicated by the arrow.
The Home key returns the cursor to the beginning of the text or page.
The End key moves the cursor to the end of the page or text.
The Page Up and Page Down buttons move the cursor to the next or previous page, respectively.
Helper Keys
Special keys on the keyboard that facilitate the user's work with the OS are called auxiliary keys.
Windows button - similar to clicking the Start icon in Windows. The combination of this key with other keys simplifies the user's work. The key is usually a Windows logo.
The Context button brings up a context menu. Its action is similar to pressing the right mouse button.
Thus, special keys on the computer keyboard greatly facilitate the user’s work and reveal new possibilities for using the operating system.