Keyboard types are six: alphabetical, functional, control, navigation, number and special keyboard keys. Each type of key has a specific purpose. Some keys help to input texts and numbers and some others perform editing purposes, opening menus, scrolling through documents and shortcuts.
However, keyboards’ functionalities and layout differs by keyboard type. For example, desktop keyboards, which typically have from 104 to 105 keyboard keys, differ from laptops. Thus, it is helpful to learn the types of keyboard keys in order to use computers.
Table of Contents
Alphanumeric Keys
Alphanumeric keys consist of letters, numbers, and symbols. They are the keys you are most frequently utilizing while performing your tasks on the keyboard.
Alphanumeric Keyboard Keys assist users in composing emails, making documents, and looking for information on the Internet. Letter keys are the keys from A-Z.
- Letter Keys: A-Z
- Number Keys: 0-9 on the keys that are used for typing.
- Punctuation Keys: Comma, period, semicolon, and several symbols.
For example, while composing a message or writing an assignment, you use letter, numbers, and punctuation and make use of some other keys. Use of Shift + key provides you with the control of typing capital letters.
Function Keys
The function keys are located across the top row of a standard computer keyboard. They are designated F1 through F12.
Each function key can be assigned to perform a different function. Its operation may also be affected by the OS, the program in use, and the key settings.
Some of the most common uses for function keys are:
- F1: Help feature in many applications.
- F2: Rename file in Windows.
- F5: Refresh page in some applications.
- F11: Toggle full-screen mode in supported applications.
- F12: Open developer tools, or save as, depending upon the application.
In some laptops, function keys can control hardware features such as brightness, volume, etc. You may need to press the Fn key along with the function key in order for them to work as intended.
Control Keys
Control keys enable you to manage text and execute functions using shortcuts. Control keys function independently or collectively.
Widely used control keys include:
- Ctrl (Control) – used for shortcuts like Ctrl+C for copy and Ctrl+V for pasting.
- Alt – helps in accessing menus and executing keyboard shortcuts.
- Shift – allows typing in capital letters and alternate characters.
- Esc (Escape) – used to close menus or cancel actions.
- Windows key – to access the Windows Start menu and other functions that use Windows shortcuts.
- Tab key – used to switch between fields or generate indentations in some applications.
For example, when you press Ctrl+S, you will be saving files in many applications. Similarly, the Alt+Tab command allows you to toggle between active windows in Windows. Using shortcut keys can help to save time and to reduce reliance on a mouse.
Navigation Keys
The purpose of navigation keys is to move you about different text, websites, and documents. They prove helpful for you when you want to edit lengthy documents or work with big amounts of information.
The primary navigation keys are as follows:
- Arrow keys: Move the cursor up, down, left, or right.
- Home: Moves to the beginning of a line in many text editors.
- End: Moves to the end of a line in many text editors.
- Page Up: Moves up through a page or screen.
- Page Down: Moves down through a page or screen.
- Insert: Switches between insert and overwrite modes in applications that support it.
- Delete: Removes selected content or the character ahead of the cursor.
The backspace key will remove any text that is before the cursor. It belongs in the editing group of keys, but its purpose is so closely related to navigation and correction.
Numeric Keys and the Numeric Keypad
The numeric keys help you enter numerical data at a fast pace. Most keyboards contain numeric keys above the letters, while a few evaporate full-size keyboards have the numeric keypad on the right side.
- The numeric keypad helps perform calculations, accounting, data input, and spreadsheets.
- The numeric keypad generally consists of:
- Numeric input keys from 0-9.
- Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division keys.
- The decimal point key.
- The Enter key.
- The Num Lock key.
When Num Lock is on, the keypad generally inputs numbers. And for some keyboards, when Num Lock is off, some keys have navigation keys as well.
Due to the smaller size of laptops, the laptop keyboards do not have an independent numeric keypad so the numbers are inputted using the main number row.
Special-Purpose Keys
The special purpose keys have a limited number of predetermined functions. They provide greater convenience when typing, editing or using a computer.
The following are some popular examples of special purpose keys:
- Enter: Begins a new line or confirms an action.
- Spacebar: Creates a gap between words.
- Backspace: Deletes the character at the cursor.
- Caps Lock: Locks the typing of letters in capitals until it is turned off.
- Print Screen: Takes a screenshot of your computer screen or does something similar depending on the operating system used.
- Menu: Used as a shortcut to open the menu in applications where it is appropriate.
- Fn: Used on many Macintosh and notebook computers to enable the alternate functions.
There may be some differences in the function of the keys mentioned above. For one thing, print screen may function differently depending on the different versions of Windows. On some newer laptops, it may require an Fn combination to perform the function.
Why Do Different Keyboards Have Different Numbers of Keys?
Not all keyboards are the same because the number of keys varies according to types, as a full-size keyboard has 104 keys on the American layout, whereas some international keyboards have up to115 keys. Different types of keypads have a different number of keys because it is possible to combine several functions on one key.
For example, in laptops, navigation functions are part of other keys to save space. Similarly, some gaming keyboards may not have the numeric keypad to allow maximum movement for the mouse.
Thus, it is the number of keys and their types that depend on keyboards and their purposes.
Final Words
There are six basic key groups on a computer keyboard: alphanumeric keys, function keys, control keys, navigation keys, number keys, and special-use keys. Each group allows for some type of action to be performed, whether it be typing text or entering numbers.
While a full sized keyboard generally has 104 or 105 keys, smaller models may have fewer than this. Once the several key groups are understood, keyboard typing and computer operation can become much easier to do.
