Ctrl Key

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What is the "Ctrl Key" in the Computer?

Ctrl key is the name of a key of the computer keyboard that doesn't do anything when pressed, but modifies the function of other keys and of clicks when held pressed—it's a modifier key, like Shift and Alt.

A black key, on it: the word "Ctrl" in white.
The Ctrl key. Photo by Raysonho on Wikimedia (license: CC0 1.0).

The Ctrl key is often used in keyboard shortcuts of applications.

Where is the Ctrl Key Located on the Keyboard?

The left Ctrl key is located at the bottom-left corner of the keyboard, below the Shift key and to the left of the WinKey. There is a also a right Ctrl key below the right Shift and to the right of the Menu key.

A black Lenovo keyboard with a short enter key and a USB cable.
A black computer keyboard featuring ANSI layout. Photo by Raysonho on Wikimedia (license: CC0 1.0).
A black keyboard with English and Cyrillic letters on its keys.
A Cyrillic keyboard featuring the ISO keyboard layout. Photo by Thomas Vogt on Flickr (license: CC BY 2.0).
Written by Noel Santos.

About the Author

I'm a self-taught Brazilian programmer graduated in IT from a FATEC. In a world of increasingly complex and essential computers, I decided to use my technical expertise in hardware, desktop applications, and web technologies to create an informative resource to make PC's easier to understand.

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