What is Computer Keyboard ?

This is a common example of how using modifier keys can produce an effect that none of the keys can perform on their own, independent of the others.

Most keyboards have a very similar layout. The individual keys for letters, numbers and special characters are collectively called the character keys

Alt-F4 is another keyboard shortcut. This one instantly closes down the window you're currently using.

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.

Whether you're in an Internet browser or browsing through pictures on your computer, this combination will instantly close the one you're focused on.

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).

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.

Although the common use for the Windows key (a.k.a start key, flag key, logo key) is to open the Start menu, it can be used for many different things.

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.

The Win-D is one example of using this key to quickly show/hide the desktop. Win-E is another useful one that quickly opens Windows Explorer.

smaller keyboards, like those on most laptops, these numeric keypads are typically no longer present due to space constraints.

Microsoft has a large list of keyboard shortcuts for Windows for some other examples. Win+X is probably my favorite.

The french canadian keyboard layout is used in french-speaking parts of Canada, mainly the Quebec region. It features the "snow mode" key, with snowflake icon next to Ctrl caption. It looks funny, because we usually tend to associate Canada with winter time (although it's the same stereotype that all Italians eat pasta only).

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.

In Windows, you can change some of your keyboard's settings, like repeat delay, repeat rate, and blink rate, from the Control Panel.

The truth is, the icon graphically represent the Ctrl (Control) key and nothing more. It was established by ACNOR in the first canadian keyboard layout, which was later copied by computer manufacturers, including Apple for its French Canadian layout.

For many tasks, you need to press more than one key at the same time

You can make advanced changes to a keyboard using third-party software like SharpKeys. This is a free program that edits the Windows Registry to remap one key to another or disable one or more keys altogether.

Space is the longest key on every keyboard, but in Japan the statistical Spacebar is much shorter than in any other place on Earth. Why?

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

SharpKeys is extremely useful if you're missing a keyboard key. For example, if you're without the Enter key, you can remap the Caps Lock key (or the F1 key, etc.) to the Enter function, essentially removing the former key's capabilities so as to regain use of the latter.

If you have been using computers for some time, you are probably familiar with a number of such combinations.

It can also be used to map keys to web controls like Refresh, Back, etc.

Because japanese keyboards require switching between latin/roman letters (called rōmaji) and japanese characters (called hiragana and kana). To do that switching, additional keys are required. They are placed next to Space. In the result, japanese keyboards look like this:

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