What Is the Option Key?

The Option key is a key on a Mac keyboard that you hold down to change what some choices do. For example, while you hold it in Finder, the Edit menu shows Move Item Here instead of Paste Item, to move a file instead of copying it. Pressing Option on its own does nothing that you can see.

What it looks like

There is one Option key on each side of the space bar, just past the Command keys. Each is marked option and ⌥, a mark like a line that bends down to the right with a short line beside it. Both do the same thing.

On Windows and on a Mac

Windows keyboards have no Option key. A Windows keyboard has an Alt key next to the space bar instead.