Why Do the F and J Keys Have Bumps?
The bumps on F and J are there so you can find the home row by touch. Your left pointer finger rests on F and your right pointer finger rests on J. Feel the bumps and every other finger falls into place, without looking down.
Feel the bumps on F and J? That's home base. Your fingers always come back here!
How the bumps help you type
- Put your pointer fingers on the bumps: left on F, right on J.
- Let your other fingers rest next to them: A S D on the left and K L ; on the right.
- Your thumbs rest on the space bar.
That is the home row. Every key you type, your finger reaches out and then comes back home. If your hands drift, feel for the bumps again. That is what lets touch typists keep their eyes on the screen.
Why F and J, not A and ;?
F and J are where your strongest, most accurate fingers (your pointer fingers) rest. They are also in the middle of each hand's keys, so the rest of the fingers line up easily on either side.
Other keyboards with bumps
- The 5 key on a number pad has a bump, so your middle finger can find the middle of the keypad.
- Phones and calculators often have a bump on 5 too.
- Some older keyboards used extra-deep keycaps on the home keys instead of bumps.
The bumps also help people who are blind or have low vision find their way around the keyboard.
Try it
Close your eyes, find the bumps, and type fff jjj fj fj. Then play Lesson 1: F and J keys, our very first lesson.
Fun fact
The bumps are often called "homing bars" or "tactile markers".
FAQ
Why do F and J have lines on them?
The raised lines help your pointer fingers find the home row by touch, so you can type without looking.
Which fingers go on F and J?
Your left pointer finger goes on F and your right pointer finger goes on J.
Why does the 5 key have a bump?
On number pads, the bump on 5 helps your middle finger find the center of the keypad.