Computer word

What Is the Control Key?

The Control key is a key you hold down while you press another key, so that the two together do a task. On a Windows computer, holding Control and pressing C copies what is highlighted. Pressing Control on its own does nothing that you can see.

What it looks like

Two drawings of keyboards, a Windows keyboard above a Mac keyboard. On the Windows keyboard, the keys at both ends of the bottom row, marked Ctrl, are shaded. On the Mac keyboard, the control key near the left end of the bottom row is shaded.

It is in the bottom row of the keyboard, at or near the left corner. Many Windows keyboards have a second one at the right end of the bottom row.

On Windows and on a Mac

On a Windows keyboard it is marked Ctrl. On a Mac keyboard it is marked control or ⌃, a small mark like an upside-down V. On a Mac, copying uses the Command key instead, and holding Control while you click opens the same menu as a right-click.

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