Keyboard Keys Explained for Kids
Every key has a job. Pick a key to see what it does on Windows, Mac and Chromebook, which finger presses it, and try a quick find-the-key drill.
Click any key guide below. I'll show you exactly where the key lives!
Colors show the key groups. Learn what they are in Parts of a Keyboard.
Typing keys
The Space Bar: What It Does and How to Press It
The space bar is the long key at the bottom of the keyboard.
What Does the Enter Key Do?
Enter starts a new line when you are writing, and it says "go!" when you are searching, sending or choosing something..
What Does the Backspace Key Do?
Backspace erases the character just to the left of the blinking cursor.
What Does the Tab Key Do?
Tab jumps forward.
What Does the Shift Key Do?
Hold Shift and press a letter to make a capital letter.
What Does the Caps Lock Key Do?
Caps Lock makes every letter you type a capital until you press it again.
Shortcut (modifier) keys
What Does the Ctrl (Control) Key Do?
Ctrl (Control) is the shortcut key on Windows and Chromebook.
What Does the Alt Key Do?
Alt means "alternate".
What Is the Windows Key?
The Windows key has the four-square Windows logo on it.
What Is the Command Key on a Mac?
The Command key (⌘) is the main shortcut key on a Mac.
What Does the Fn Key Do?
Fn stands for "function".
Function keys
What Does the Escape (Esc) Key Do?
Esc (Escape) is the "never mind" key.
What Are the Function Keys (F1 to F12)?
The function keys are the row of keys labeled F1 to F12 across the top of the keyboard.
What Does the F1 Key Do?
F1 is the help key.
The Print Screen Key: How to Take a Screenshot
Print Screen (PrtSc) takes a picture of your screen, called a screenshot.
Moving around
Arrow Keys: What They Do and How to Use Them
The four arrow keys move the cursor up, down, left and right.
What Does the Home Key Do?
Home jumps the cursor to the start of the line you are on.
What Does the End Key Do?
End jumps the cursor to the end of the line you are on.
What Do Page Up and Page Down Do?
Page Up and Page Down scroll one whole screen up or down at a time.
What Does the Insert Key Do?
Insert (Ins) switches some programs between two ways of typing: insert mode, where new letters push the old ones along, and overtype mode, where new letters replace the old ones..
What Does the Delete Key Do?
Delete (Del) erases the character just to the right of the cursor.
What Is Num Lock?
Num Lock (number lock) switches the number pad between typing numbers and moving around.
Letter and symbol keys
Looking for a letter? Practice every letter in Learn Every Key. Want the names of ! @ # and friends? See Keyboard Characters and Meanings.
Fun keyboard facts
Why is it QWERTY? Why do F and J have bumps? Find out in Keyboard Facts for Kids.