A Help key, found in the shape of a dedicated key explicitly labeled , or as another key, typically one of the

function key A function key is a key on a computer or terminal keyboard that can be programmed so as to cause an operating system command interpreter or application program to perform certain actions, a form of soft key. On some keyboards/computers, function ...

s, on a

computer keyboard A computer keyboard is a peripheral input device modeled after the typewriter keyboard which uses an arrangement of buttons or keys to act as mechanical levers or electronic switches. Replacing early punched cards and paper tape technology ...

, is a key which, when pressed, produces information on the screen/display to aid the user in their current task, such as using a specific function in an

application program Application may refer to: Mathematics and computing * Application software, computer software designed to help the user to perform specific tasks ** Application layer, an abstraction layer that specifies protocols and interface methods used in a ...

. In the case of a non-dedicated Help key, the location of the key will sometimes vary between different software packages. Most common in computer history, however, is the development of a

de facto ''De facto'' ( ; , "in fact") describes practices that exist in reality, whether or not they are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms. It is commonly used to refer to what happens in practice, in contrast with ''de jure'' ("by la ...

Help key location for each brand/family of computer, exemplified by the use of F1 on

IBM compatible PC IBM PC compatible computers are similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT, all from computer giant IBM, that are able to use the same software and expansion cards. Such computers were referred to as PC clones, IBM clones or IBM PC clones. ...

Apple keyboards

On a full-sized

Apple keyboard Apple Inc. has designed and released dozens of keyboard models since the introduction of the Apple II in 1977. The current models in use are dual-mode (Bluetooth and USB) keyboards with integrated batteries: Magic Keyboard (silver only), and Mag ...

, the help key was labelled simply as , located to the left of the . Where IBM compatible PC keyboards had the , Apple keyboards had the help key instead. As of 2007, new Apple keyboards do not have a help key. In its place, a full-sized Apple keyboard has a instead. Instead of a mechanical help key, the menu bar for most applications contain a Help menu as a matter of convention.

Commodore and Amiga keyboards

The Commodore 128 had a key in the second block of top row keys. Amiga keyboards had a key, labelled as such, above the arrow keys on the keyboard, and next to a key (where the cluster is on a standard PC keyboard).

Atari keyboards

The keyboards of the Atari 16- and 32-bit computers had a key above the arrow keys on the keyboard. Atari 8-bit XL and XE series keyboards had dedicated keys, but in the group of differently-styled system keys separated from the rest of the keyboard.

Sun Microsystems (Oracle)

Most of the Sun Microsystems keyboards have a dedicate "" key in the left top corner (left from the "" key above block of 10 () extra keys.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Help Key Computer keys Online help