Keyboard Shortcut

A keyboard shortcut, or hotkey, is a key or combination of keys that performs a command in an operating system or application. Most use a modifier such as Ctrl, Alt, Shift, or Cmd on a Mac, pressed together with a letter or function key.

Why it matters

Shortcuts reduce repeated trips to the mouse and speed up common tasks. They also matter for accessibility, since people who cannot use a pointer rely on keyboard operation. Many shortcuts are consistent between applications, which makes new software easier to learn, though Windows and macOS use different modifier keys.

Example

Common ones on Windows (replace Ctrl with Cmd on macOS):

Ctrl+C   copy
Ctrl+V   paste
Ctrl+Z   undo
Ctrl+F   find
Alt+Tab  switch window
Win+L    lock the screen

In a browser, Ctrl+Shift+T reopens the last closed tab, and F12 commonly opens developer tools.

Common mistakes

• Defining custom web app shortcuts that clash with browser or screen-reader keys.
• Assuming shortcuts are identical across applications and platforms.
• Pressing Ctrl+Alt+Del or Ctrl+Shift+Esc repeatedly on a frozen system instead of waiting; the system may need time.

Related

• Undo and redo
• Clipboard
• Screen reader
• Task Manager

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