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Keyboard: Updated: 12/31/2020 by Computer Hope

A keyboard is a primary input device for computers composed of buttons to create letters, numbers, and symbols. Keyboards connect via USB or Bluetooth and include keys arranged in rows, with some keyboards having additional function keys or being specialized for laptops or touchscreens.

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28 views

Keyboard: Updated: 12/31/2020 by Computer Hope

A keyboard is a primary input device for computers composed of buttons to create letters, numbers, and symbols. Keyboards connect via USB or Bluetooth and include keys arranged in rows, with some keyboards having additional function keys or being specialized for laptops or touchscreens.

Uploaded by

shetty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Keyboard

Updated: 12/31/2020 by Computer Hope
A keyboard is one of the primary input
devices used with a computer. Similar to an
electric typewriter, a keyboard is composed of
buttons used to create letters, numbers,
and symbols, and perform additional functions.
The following sections provide more in-depth
information and answers to some of the
frequently asked questions about the keyboard.

 Keyboard overview

 QWERTY keyboard layout

 Keyboard ports and interfaces

 Types of keyboards

 What else can a keyboard do?

 Apple keyboards

 Laptop keyboards

 Smartphone and tablet keyboards

 Why is the keyboard an input device?

 Does a computer need a keyboard?

 What are multimedia keys?

 What keys appear twice on a keyboard?

 How to use a computer keyboard.

 How can I improve my typing?

 When was the first keyboard invented?

 Keyboard shortcut keys

 Related pages

 Keyboard help and support.

Keyboard overview
The following image shows a 104-
key Saitek keyboard with arrows pointing to
each section, including the control
keys, function keys, LED indicators, wrist
pad, arrow keys, and keypad.

What are the keyboard rows?


The horizontal rows of character keys have
specific names. For example, when placing
your hands on the keyboard, they should be
positioned over the home row keys. The keys
below the home row are called the bottom
row keys, and above the home row keys are
the top row keys.
QWERTY keyboard layout
Below is a close-up image of
a QWERTY computer keyboard with each of
the keys selectable. You may hover your
mouse cursor over any of the keys to see a
description. Clicking any of the keys opens a
new page with full details.

Tip

See our QWERTY definition for reasons why the keyboard keys are positioned the way
they are.

 Computer keyboard key explanations.

Keyboard ports and interfaces


Today, most desktop computer keyboards
connect to the computer using
either USB or Bluetooth for wireless communi
cation. Before USB, a computer
used PS/2, serial port, or AT (Din5) as a
keyboard interface.

 How to connect and install a computer keyboard.

Types of keyboards
Today, most keyboards are similar to each
other, but may be missing one or more of
the sections mentioned earlier (e.g., the
keypad). Where keyboards begin to differ the
most is in their construction and design.
Some keyboards are mechanical, while
others use membrane keys. Some keyboards
are split down the middle, and others fold in
half or roll-up. While most keyboards use
the QWERTY layout, there are still designs
that utilize the DVORAK layout.

 How many keys are on a computer keyboard?

What else can a keyboard do?


A computer keyboard has many more
functions than typing. Below is a list of
additional tasks you can perform using a
keyboard.

 Enter commands in a command line or

another CLI (command-line interface).

 Use keyboard shortcuts to perform tasks more quickly.

For example, using Ctrl+C to copy text

and Ctrl+V to paste it elsewhere.

 Use the function keys to perform tasks. For example,

pressing F5 in a browser to refresh a web page.

 Control computer hardware. For example, many

keyboards can change your speakers' volume.

 Use the arrow keys to move the text cursor on the

screen.

 Use the WASD keys or arrow keys to move

a character in a game.

 Use the numeric keypad to make calculations in

a calculator.

Apple keyboards
The following section contains information on
Apple keyboards and how they differ from
their PC equivalents.
What does an Apple keyboard look like?
The following image shows the standard
layout for an Apple keyboard with a numeric
keypad.

How are Apple keyboards different than Windows


keyboards?
The keyboards used with Apple desktop
computers have a nearly identical layout to
those used with Windows computers.
However, they have a few different keys on
both sides of the keyboard's characters
section near the
bottom: Command and Option.
Laptop keyboards
A laptop keyboard is arranged differently
than a desktop keyboard to accommodate
the laptop's narrower footprint. Most laptop
keyboards are made smaller by placing the
keys closer and by including an Fn key. The
Fn key is used to give other keys more than
once function. For example, pressing the Fn
key and the up or down arrow on the
keyboard may increase or decrease screen
brightness (shown below). Also, many laptop
keyboards generally omit the numeric
keypad to save space.

Smartphone and tablet keyboards


Today's smartphones and tablets do not
come with a physical keyboard, although one
may be purchased as an
optional peripheral add-on. These devices
utilize a thumb keyboard or on-screen
keyboard to type messages and enter text
into various fields. The image is an example
of the Apple iPhone on-screen keyboard,
used on all Apple touch-based devices.

Why is the keyboard an input device?


A computer keyboard is considered an input
device because it only sends data to a
computer and does not receive any
information from it. As you type on the
keyboard, you're inputting information into
the computer.

Does a computer need a keyboard?


Many users are surprised to learn that a
keyboard is considered a peripheral and that
a computer can function without one. In fact,
if you have a USB keyboard, you can
disconnect it now, and you see that the
computer continues to work without it.
Many servers, like the Computer Hope web
server, run almost their entire life without a
keyboard and are administered by
a remotely-connected user.

What are multimedia keys?


Multimedia keys are those keys that allow
the user to control music on their computer
keyboard. These keys add functionality, such
as play, pause, stop, rewind, fast
forward, skip track, eject, shuffle,
and repeat for music. For further information
on these keys, see our special key page.

What keys appear twice on a keyboard?


On a typical U.S. PC keyboard, three keys
appear twice. They are the Alt keys, Ctrl
keys, and Shift keys. Almost all the keys on
the numeric keypad are duplicated. These
keys include
the divide (/), times (*), subtract (-), plus (+
), period (.), numbers 0 through 9, and
the Enter key. The only key on the numeric
keypad that does not appear twice is
the Num lock key.

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