What Is the Shift Key?

The Shift key is a key you hold down while you press another key. Held with a letter, it types a capital letter, such as A instead of a; held with a key that shows two marks, such as the 1 key with ! above it, it types the top mark.

What it looks like

Most keyboards have two Shift keys, one at each end of the row above the bottom row. Both do the same thing. Each is wider than a letter key and is marked Shift or with an arrow pointing up.

On Windows and on a Mac

On a Mac keyboard the key is marked shift and often also with ⇧, an outlined arrow pointing up. Some lessons for a Mac use that symbol, because Mac menus show it beside their shortcuts.