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A keyboard with Num Lock turned on as indicated by a LED
Num Lock or Numeric Lock (⇭) is a key on the numeric keypad of most computer keyboards. It is a lock key, like Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Its state affects the function of the numeric keypad commonly located to the right of the main keyboard and is commonly displayed by an LED built into the keyboard.
The Num Lock key exists because earlier 84-key IBM PC keyboards did not have cursor control or arrows separate from the numeric keypad. Most earlier computer keyboards had different number keys and cursor control keys; however, to reduce cost, IBM chose to combine the two in their early PC keyboards. Num Lock would be used to select between the two functions. On some laptop computers, the Num Lock key is used to convert part of the main keyboard to act as a (slightly skewed) numeric keypad rather than letters. On some laptop computers, the Num Lock key is absent and replaced by the use of a key combination.[1]
Since Apple Keyboards never had a combination of arrow keys and numeric keypad (but some lacked arrow keys, function keys, and a numeric keypad altogether), Apple has keyboards with a separate numeric keypad but no functional Num Lock key. Keyboards manufactured by Apple will instead use a Clear key but not all Apple manufactured keyboards will be provided with it.[2]
Numeric keypad
Keys affected by Num Lock
Key on Numeric Keypad
Num Lock On
Num Lock Off
1
1
End
2
2
Down Arrow
3
3
Page Down
4
4
Left Arrow
5
5
does nothing (usually)[3]
6
6
Right Arrow
7
7
Home
8
8
Up Arrow
9
9
Page Up
0
0 (zero or comma)
Insert
.
. (dot) or, (comma)
Delete
IBM PC keyboard (Windows, ANSI US layout)
v
t
e
Esc
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
F6
F7
F8
F9
F10
F11
F12
PrtScn/ SysRq
Scroll Lock
Pause/ Break
Insert
Home
PgUp
Num Lock
∕
∗
−
Delete
End
PgDn
7
8
9
+
4
5
6
↑
1
2
3
Enter
←
↓
→
0 Ins
. Del
^"Press Fn+F8, F7, or Insert to enable/disable numlock". Lenovo Support. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
^"Use your Apple Keyboard in Windows with Boot Camp". Apple Support. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
^"keyboard - Has the '5' key on the numeric keypad ever had an alternate function in hardware?". Super User. Retrieved 2022-01-16.
NumLock or Numeric Lock (⇭) is a key on the numeric keypad of most computer keyboards. It is a lock key, like Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Its state affects...
(subtraction), * (multiplication), and / (division) symbols, . (decimal point), NumLock, and ↵ Enter keys. As smaller keyboards such as those found on laptops...
assigned the Pause function to Ctrl+NumLock and the Break function to Ctrl+Scroll Lock. The Scroll Lock key is meant to lock all scrolling techniques and is...
to indicate that Caps Lock is active, either on the key itself or in a dedicated indicators area, where Scroll Lock and NumLock indicators are also located...
In addition to being mapped to standard keyboard keys like Scroll Lock and NumLock, the Fn key combinations may also be mapped to control system interfaces...
selected. Most keyboards have three different types of lock functions: Number Lock – NumLock. Allows the user to type numbers by pressing the keys on...
keyboards) the Pause function was assigned to Ctrl+NumLock, and the Break function to Ctrl+ScrLock; these key-combinations still work with most programs...
PgUp/PgDn 1 represents NumLock status light, A represents ⇪ Caps Lock status light, ⤓ represents Scroll Lock status light, F represents F-Lock status light (listed...
above the numeric pad. The lock keys include Scroll lock, Numlock (which allows the use of the numeric keypad), and Caps lock. The SysRq and Print screen...
on, the computer will provide sound cues when the locking keys (⇪ Caps Lock, NumLock, or Scroll Lock) are pressed. A high-pitched sound plays when the...
(de)activated by Alt+⇧ Shift+NumLock. MouseKeys without acceleration (also known as plot mode) is sometimes available with ⇧ Shift+NumLock. This is nominally...
needed] Importantly, many NumPy operations release the global interpreter lock, which allows for multithreaded processing. NumPy also provides a C API,...
currency symbols, business use, etc. Some computers work the same if the NumLock key is on. On a Macintosh, the Alt key is called the Option key. It is...
didn't have dedicated arrow keys, and instead used the 8426 keys with NumLock turned off. Therefore this was the scheme used by the earliest DOS games...
control. all Apple laptops after 2007 are missing any NumLock key, even if they lack a keypad (the NumLock was previously located on the F6 key on older Apple...
the question mark, the exclamation point, and the colon. When the caps lock key is engaged, the shift key may be used to type lowercase letters on many...
screenshot.) With the Alt key, it switched to SysRq, a different keycode. NumLock toggles the state of the numeric keypad. When off, the keypad acts as arrow...
number of pages in the document, and the state of the caps lock, numlock, and scroll lock keys. Additionally, many word processors assign the insert...
from F1-F12 only, just like IBM PC keyboards. A Clear key, instead of a NumLock key, on models with full numeric keypads, as these are dedicated to numeric...
respect to Shift and Caps Lock keys. For example, to enter "Ź", one can type ⇧ Shift+AltGr+X with Caps Lock off, or turn on Caps Lock and type AltGr+X. Both...
It is typically situated in the same section as the break key and scroll lock key. The print screen may share the same key as system request. Under command-line...
Global Information
