Caps lock

The switchover (English Shift Lock) key or Caps Lock key ( english Caps Lock ) is located on a computer or typewriter keyboard directly above the left Shift key and may be printed differently. Thus one finds, for example, the label Caps Lock, symbols like ⇩ or a padlock.

The shift lock is used for convenient input of text in Versalschrift (example: VERSALSCHRIFT ).

Function

The button can have two different functions:

  • An activated lock shift ( shift lock ) acts as if the Shift key permanently. This is output when pressing a letter key, the corresponding capital letter and pressing a number key the associated special characters.
  • An activated Caps Lock key ( Caps Lock ) on the other hand causes the letters capitalized, the remaining keys are output at their usual occupation.

In German computer keyboards, the key acts normally as switchover, on Swiss or American keyboards as Caps Lock key. Windows follows this convention and changes the function of the button corresponding to the active keyboard driver. On the Apple Macintosh ( usually shown as ⇪ here ), however, the key acts by default as Caps Lock key.

History

Originally, the button is disabled also in different ways - on German keyboards by pressing the Shift, on Swiss or American keyboards by again pressing the Caps Lock key.

The origin of the shift lock is in the mechanical typewriter keyboard: The pressure of the key dropped from the type of car or lifted the platen, in contrast to the normal Shift einrastete the mechanics in this position. In this position, each of the second assignment of the other buttons has been put on paper. Pressing the Left Shift key solved the latching again.

Modification of the Caps Lock key

Under most operating systems, you can disable the Caps Lock key, so as to prevent accidental operation. On some keyboards, the Caps Lock key is equipped with a special button mechanism, which provides a significantly deviant from the other keys tactile feedback. The function of the shift lock is a mechanical typewriter imitated: the key remains after activation in the depressed position and jumps after pressed again, back to the starting position. An example of such is the Apple Taststatur Extended Keyboard II, a ADB compatible keyboard key action mechanism of the manufacturer ALPS.

Apple Desktop Bus Alps Electric Esc key Scroll lock 8 (number) 9 (number) 4 (number) 6 (number) 3 (number)
162906
de