This article is about computer keyboard keys. For the universal postal service key, see Arrow lock.
Arrow keys in an inverted T layout
Arrow keys or cursor movement keys are keys on a computer keyboard that are either programmed or designated to move the cursor in a specified direction.[1]
The term "cursor movement key" is distinct from "arrow key" in that the former term may refer to any of various keys on a computer keyboard designated for cursor movement, whereas "arrow keys" generally refers to one of four specific keys, typically marked with arrows.[2]
Arrow keys are typically located at the bottom of the keyboard to the left side of the numeric keypad, usually arranged in an inverted-T layout but also found in diamond shapes and linear shapes. Arrow keys are commonly used for navigating around documents and for playing games.
The inverted-T layout was popularized by the Digital Equipment Corporation LK201 keyboard from 1982.
^'Inside Macintosh', by Caroline Rose, Bradley Hacker, Apple Computer, Inc. Published 1985, Addison-Wesley Pub. Co. ISBN 0-201-05409-4. Original from the University of Michigan; Digitized Nov 16, 2007.
^Visual editing on unix By B. Srinivasan, K. Ranai Published 1989 World Scientific Text editors (Computer programs) 182 pages ISBN 9971-5-0770-6
Arrowkeys or cursor movement keys are keys on a computer keyboard that are either programmed or designated to move the cursor in a specified direction...
that the number of arrowkeys in circulation is unknown and keys are not adequately reported lost or stolen. Lost or stolen arrowkeys have been used by...
Page Up and Page Down keys (sometimes abbreviated as PgUp and PgDn) are two keys commonly found on computer keyboards. The two keys are primarily used to...
lacked arrowkeys, function keys, and a numeric keypad altogether), Apple has keyboards with a separate numeric keypad but no functional Num Lock key. Keyboards...
several keys simultaneously or in sequence. While most keys produce characters (letters, numbers or symbols), other keys (such as the escape key) can prompt...
editors when line and column navigation was controlled with arrowkeys. Today, mouse keys usually refers to the numeric keypad layout standardized with...
rather than by page. In 1988, Open Look created an elevator thumb with arrowkeys directly on it. Clicking on the track moved by pages, and auto repeat...
holding down of two Arrowkeys or WASD keys in order to move the player in a diagonal direction. Other scenarios might be pressing a key to interact with...
point and the text cursor.[citation needed] The shift key can be used in conjunction with the arrowkeys to select text.[citation needed] Holding shift while...
Lock was intended to modify the behavior of the arrowkeys. When the Scroll Lock mode is on, the arrowkeys scroll the contents of a text window instead...
uses the arrowkeys (with one or more modifier key held) to navigate on the "2D plane" of the interface. For example, pressing the "up" arrowkey will focus...
the caret position (Mac OS); Holding the Ctrl key (Windows) while pressing arrowkeys or Home / End keys makes the caret move at larger steps, e.g. words...
function keys on the left side, a unique eight directional arrowkeys as opposed to the traditional inverted T, and a quartet of extra keys directly above...
the arrowkeys.) Apple commonly uses the symbol U+2325 ⌥ OPTION KEY to represent the Option key. From 1980 to 1984, on the Apple II series, this key was...
arrowkeys, the numeric keypad can allow for diagonal movement. For keyboards without a numeric keypad, some games provide alternative movement keys,...
to press a single key or a sequence of keys one after the other. Other keyboard shortcuts require pressing and holding several keys simultaneously (indicated...
positioning of keys on a keyboard. Visual layout is the arrangement of the legends (labels, markings, engravings) that appear on those keys. Functional layout...
if it does not, the cursor (arrow) keys may be used to move backwards and forwards between candidate words, or digit keys can be used to select one of...
Some of special key inscriptions are changed to a graphical symbol (e.g. ⇪ Caps Lock is an upward arrow, ← Backspace a leftward arrow). Most of the other...
left/right arrowskeys side by side and up/down keys bracketing them from above and below, increasing the distance between the vertical keys. Another significant...
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