Function keys on a keyboard execute various programs or aspects of a program when pressed. They are designated with an “F” or “Fn” and often a number. Different programs establish different purposes for function keys, but there are some common uses such as refreshing a web page with F5 or opening a search box with F3. Function keys are also commonly used in BIOS when starting up a computer to enable various functions.
A function key is a key on a keyboard, usually for some type of computer, that runs or executes various programs or aspects of a program when pressed. These keys act in different ways than standard single-function input keys, such as letters and numbers which generally indicate a letter or number to be entered into a system regardless of the program used. The exact purpose of these keys is usually indicated by the program a user is currently interacting with, although some functions are somewhat standard in various programs. A function key is typically designated with an “F” or “Fn” on the key, and often a number as well, to make it easier to identify.
Also called an “F-key,” a function key operates by allowing a computer program to indicate what operations will be performed when the key is pressed. While “hot keys” can be established for most computer programs, a function key tends to be universally recognized as being separate from other keys on a keyboard and used for various other purposes. These functions can be established within a program itself, or a program can allow a user to change the function of these keys to do different things.
While different programs establish different purposes for various function keys, there are some common uses that can apply to different programs. For example, many web browsers let you press F5 to refresh a web page. F3 can typically open a search box, and many different programs use F1 as a function key to open a menu or help window while using the program . Most versions of Microsoft® Windows® allow a user to close a currently selected window by pressing Alt+F4, and if you press F8 while Windows® is starting, it will start in Safe Mode.
Other Microsoft® products also use function keys quite prodigiously for a variety of different functions. For example, in Microsoft® Word®, F7 spell checks the currently open document, and in PowerPoint®, F5 starts a presentation. The Mac OS® operating system used in Apple® computers often provides function key control over one of several options, such as changes to speaker volume and monitor brightness.
Function keys are also commonly used in basic input/output systems (BIOS) when starting up a computer to enable a variety of functions. F10 while in a BIOS program typically saves and exits the program, restarting the computer in the process, while F7 can often load the optimal BIOS configuration for a computer. Most keyboards include a number of different keys for various functions, and some keyboards have liquid crystal display (LCD) keys that can indicate the action within a program that will be performed by pressing a function key.
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