Num lock

The Num Lock or Num Lock key is a key on a computer keyboard. It is located on the top left on the numeric keypad. It has been introduced specifically for the IBM PC, and therefore does not exist on any keyboard.

Purpose

The Num Lock key is similar to the Scroll Lock key or the shift lock a Caps Lock key. Her condition is usually represented by a small LED light, with some notebooks also on an LCD. If it is on, the numeric keypad can be used to enter numbers; it is off, the cursor using the numeric keypad can be controlled.

Use the key combination Left Shift Left Alt Num - Lock can be turned on or off in Windows and some other operating systems, the keyboard mouse.

Origin

The IBM PC The original keyboard had only 83 keys. Therefore, they had no separate cursor block, and could, instead, the keypad either enter a number ( Num Lock on) or be used as a cursor pad ( Num Lock off); here are from the buttons 4, 8, 6 and 2, for example, the four directional buttons and one is from the end key, etc.

Later keyboards have a separate cursor block, but instead now save the Num Lock key, as it would have been logical, it was maintained, and now you could make the numeric keypad a second cursor block.

Criticism

When this key is an anachronism - PC keyboards without the separate cursor block, they needed were only five years of the standard, while have passed since then until today over 20 years.

The "normal" state of a Caps Lock key is usually signaled by a switched off lights, as in the shift lock or scroll lock, in Num -Lock, it is since 1986 reversed because there (at least on desktop computers), the ON state, the normal state is. Some start Windows computer without Num Lock, ie with switched off lights, for some it may be configured in the BIOS of the state, only to be changed at the start of the operating system of this again. Newer versions of Windows, remember when you shut down the current state of the button and set it on the next boot restore.

A false condition quickly leads to confusion and incorrect entries. Especially on laptops you have to pay attention to the status of the Num Lock key, because otherwise from the text " Hello, I have a problem with my keyboard " the character and sequence of digits " Ha336, 5ch have e5n * r6b3e0 05T 0e5ner Tastat4r " because normal keys have dual functions.

• Computer Key