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What are Alphanumeric Keys?

Last Updated : 25 Jun, 2024
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Alphanumeric keys are the keys on a computer keyboard that have letters and numbers. The keys have all the letters from A to Z and all numbers from 0 to 9. They also have some symbols like punctuation marks. The keyboard has 5 rows. The top row has only numbers. The second row has letters. The middle row has both letters and numbers. There is also a big bar for the space between words. The keyboard has other keys too, like the control key, alt key, and function keys. But alphanumeric means just the letter and number keys.

keyboard
A Computer keyboard with all Configuration keys

Use of Alphanumeric Keys

Alphanumeric keys are used for the type a letters, a numbers and symbols into the computer. And For passwords, use a mix of Letters that can be capital and small, Numbers, Special symbols like % $ & ! # $.

Using different types makes passwords hard for hacking tools to guess. But do not use common words that hackers can easily know. Alphanumeric keys type letters, numbers, symbols, Mix them for strong passwords and then avoid simple words hackers may know and this keeps passwords safe and secure.

Common Keys in Keyboard

  • Letter Keys: The keys with letters A to Z work like a typewriter. Pressing them gives lowercase letters. Holding shift and pressing them gives capital letters.
  • Spacebar: The long key adds a blank space between words when pressed.
  • Number Keys: The keys with numbers 0 to 9 work like a typewriter too. They type numbers. Holding shift with number keys types the symbol shown above the number.
  • Symbol Keys: These keys have two symbols on them. Pressing alone types the bottom symbol. Holding shift and pressing types the top symbol. Examples are #, $, %, (, ), [, ].
  • Caps lock Key: This key is for typing all capital/uppercase letters.
  • Shift key: There are two shift keys. Hold one down with another key to type a capital letter.
  • Enter Key: Pressing this key finishes a line or entry.
  • Backspace Key: This key moving the cursor back one space and it delete the character or the word behind it.
  • Tab key: Pressing tab moves the cursor over a few spaces on the screen.
  • Function Key: The Fn key is superior key found on several laptop and computers. Fn stands for "function". Fn key is used a composed with other keys to do some tasks. You can use the Fn key combined with other keys to quickly change settings like: Making the screen brighter or dimmer and Adjusting the sound volume higher or lower.
  • Control Key: The Control key is labeled as Ctrl. Control key is a special key on a computer keyboard. It is used together with other keys. When you press a Control(ctrl) key and other key at the same time, it will do a different thing. For eg., pressing Ctrl+C copy the text. The Ctrl key doesn't do much when pressed alone, just like the Shift key. Most keyboards have a Ctrl key in the bottom left corner. Many keyboards also have an extra Ctrl key in the bottom right corner.
Alphanumeric keys and other special keys on the keyboard
Alphanumeric keys and other special keys on the keyboard

Common Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Opening File Manager: Press the Windows logo key + E. This opens the program to see all your files and documents.
  • Select All and Copying: Press Control + A to select everything. Then press Control + C to copy the selected or highlighted text or other things. Press Control + V to paste what you copied.
  • Switch Between Windows: Press Alt + Tab to quickly switch between the dissimilar open program and a windows.
  • Finding Words: If you want to search a word in the document or a webpage press Control + F key. A container will arise for you to type a word you need to find. It will take you right to that word.
  • Refreshing a Webpage: If a webpage in the browser is not load properly then you can refresh that webpage. Rather than clicking a refresh button you can press Fn + F5 to reload the page

These shortcuts working on the Windows and the Linux computers. They make things faster by using keys instead of clicking with the mouse.

Conclusion

Alphanumeric keys are a key through letters and numbers on them. They have all the letter keys from A to Z and number keys from 0 to 9. This letter and number keys are the important one used for type the words, numbers, and symbols into a computer. Meaningfully knowing how to use the keys with letters and numbers is a very important for basic typing and entering data into a computer.


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