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The shift key on a modern keyboard

The shift key is a modifier key on a keyboard, used to type capital letters and other alternate "upper" characters. There are typically two shift keys, on the left and right sides of the row below the home row.

On an English keyboard, characters that typically require the use of the shift key include the parentheses, the question mark, the exclamation point, and the colon.

When the caps lock key is engaged, the shift key can be used to type lowercase letters.

On computer keyboards, as opposed to typewriter keyboards, the shift key can have many more uses:

• It is sometimes used to modify the function keys. Modern Windows keyboards typically have only 12 function keys; Shift+F1 must be used to type F13, Shift+F2 for F14, etc.
• It can modify various control and alt keys. For example, if Alt-tab is used to cycle through open windows, Shift-Alt-tab cycles in the reverse order.
• Holding shift while moving the cursor in a word processor generally selects a range of text.
• The shift key can also be used to modify the mouse on a computer. For example, holding shift while clicking on a link in a web browser might cause the page to open in a new window, or to be downloaded.
• Holding shift while inserting a compact disc in a Microsoft Windows computer will disable the autorun feature. This ability has been used to circumvent the MediaMax CD-3 CD copy protection system.
• Holding shift while clicking on "Restart" in Windows will restart Windows and not the entire system.
• In Windows Explorer and some other file managers, holding shift while deleting a file will permanently delete that file rather than moving it to the recycle bin.
• Holding shift while scrolling will scan through previously viewed web pages.
• In Mac OS X, when minimising a window or enabling/disabling Dashboard or Exposé, pressing the shift key while pressing the assigned combination makes the animation occur in slow motion.

On some keyboards, if both shift keys are held down simultaneously only some letters can be typed. For example on the Dell keyboard Model RT7D20 the letters A,C,D,E,G,I,J,L,N,R,S,T,U,V,W and Y can be typed. This phenomenon is known as "masking" and is a fundamental limitation of the way keyboards are designed. [1]

On Mac OS X, the key is indicated by an outlined up-pointing arrow (⇧).

• AltGr key
• Apple key
• Option key