Why There Are Two CTRL,SHIFT & ALT Keys On Keyboard ?

@shailaja-tiwari-lKhGjd • Oct 26, 2024

Oct 26, 2024

1.4K

I'm curious to know why do we have 2 ctrl,shift and alt keys on our keyboard ?
Does each side keys have different functions?
Know that it is a very basic question but help needed.

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Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 31, 2013

Maybe, because there are right-handed & left-handed people ?
I don't think there is anyother difference of function between Right-CTRL,ALT,SHIFT & Left-CTRL,ALT,SHIFT keys except 'Gaming'.
BTW I have seen very few games with Right-CTRL,ALT,SHIFT keys assigned to any move in games though.
vishalj

@vishalj-Oei5XH • Jul 31, 2013

why god given u two hands two legs two eyes..................the same is with computer,got it😁🎉
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 31, 2013

vishalj
why god given u two hands two legs two eyes..................the same is with computer,got it😁🎉
Why not two backspace, two tabs & two esc then ?
Now don't tell me because there is one nose that's why 👀
Sanyam Khurana

@sanyam-Nl7Zqc • Jul 31, 2013

Abhishek Rawal
Why not two backspace, two tabs & two esc then ?
Now don't tell me because there is one nose that's why 👀
Just like you have one nose... so , likewise, one backspace.. 😏
Kaustubh Katdare

@thebigk • Jul 31, 2013

shailaja revathi
I'm curious to know why do we have 2 ctrl,shift and alt keys on our keyboard ?
Does each side keys have different functions?
Know that it is a very basic question but help needed.

It actually helps typing! A lot of people type with their two index fingers and never learn to type well - they may not appreciate the presence of two keys. Here's how it works -

When you want to get a capital 'Q', you press the 'shift' key with the pinky of your right hand and press Q button with the ring finger of your left. The idea is to press the ALT, CTRL, SHIFT key with one hand and use the other hand to type the other keys.

They are there for a reason! 😀
Sanyam Khurana

@sanyam-Nl7Zqc • Jul 31, 2013

Kaustubh Katdare
It actually helps typing! A lot of people type with their two index fingers and never learn to type well - they may not appreciate the presence of two keys. Here's how it works -

When you want to get a capital 'Q', you press the 'shift' key with the pinky of your right hand and press Q button with the ring finger of your left. The idea is to press the ALT, CTRL, SHIFT key with one hand and use the other hand to type the other keys.

They are there for a reason! 😀
I use only Left shift to print Capital letters.. 😲
Kaustubh Katdare

@thebigk • Jul 31, 2013

Sanyam Khurana
I use only Left shift to print Capital letters.. 😲
...Because you never learned to type like a pro 😀
Sanyam Khurana

@sanyam-Nl7Zqc • Jul 31, 2013

Kaustubh Katdare
...Because you never learned to type like a pro 😀
Yeah...that's the reason you have speed of more than 100 wpm and me with 60 wpm 👎
Kaustubh Katdare

@thebigk • Jul 31, 2013

Sanyam Khurana
Yeah...that's the reason you have speed of more than 100 wpm and me with 60 wpm 👎
60 WPM is above average. 👍

I average at about 80. Have given up on typing exercises since long time.
Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Jul 31, 2013

shailaja revathi
I'm curious to know why do we have 2 ctrl,shift and alt keys on our keyboard ?
Does each side keys have different functions?
Know that it is a very basic question but help needed.
Abhishek Rawal
Maybe, because there are right-handed & left-handed people ?
One of the reason.

ctrl,shift and alt keys are used with combination of other letters like (Ctrl+P, Ctrl+c/v/x) and if anyone using office applications there lots of shortcuts are used to do task.
Now if you observe to use SHIFT+5 , using two hands right shift + left hand 5 is better use without stretching one hand.
similarly applies to Ctrl+T or some middle keyboard keys.
I know lots of us aren't using both keys but using both sides are a lots faster.

Here is the question from me: Why keys on keyboard are scramble ? , find the answer and have fun.😘
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 31, 2013

Kaustubh Katdare
...Because you never learned to type like a pro 😀
Infact, you don't need other hand to type any capital alphabet.
For eg : If you have to type capital 'Q' (or any alphabet on left-side of keyboard) then use left hand & left shift.
For 'K' (or any alphabet on right-side of keyboard) use right hand & right Shift.
Kaustubh Katdare

@thebigk • Jul 31, 2013

Abhishek Rawal
Infact, you don't need other hand to type any capital alphabet.
For eg : If you have to type capital 'Q' (or any alphabet on left-side of keyboard) then use left hand & left shift.
For 'K' (or any alphabet on right-side of keyboard) use right hand & right Shift.
I think it's all about personal preference. I think it's easier to use a combo of left and right hand then having two fingers of the same hand type two keys at a time.

But still, that proves the need to have two ALT, SHIFT, CTRL keys.
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 31, 2013

Kaustubh Katdare
I think it's all about personal preference. I think it's easier to use a combo of left and right hand then having two fingers of the same hand type two keys at a time.
Personal choice,I agree because I got this habit after playing World Of Warcraft which covers entire keyboard in gameplay with Keybindings. (Clickers don't have to deal with this)
#-Link-Snipped-# might be knowing it 😀

Kaustubh Katdare
But still, that proves the need to have two ALT, SHIFT, CTRL keys.
Agreed.
Marvin Kalngan

@marvin-vSTabj • Jul 31, 2013

I think your keyboard is obsolete, because in my keyboard I have 2 shift, 2 alt, but only one ctrl key . . .
Kaustubh Katdare

@thebigk • Jul 31, 2013

marvin cute
I think your keyboard is obsolete, because in my keyboard I have 2 shift, 2 alt, but only one ctrl key . . .
On Mac keyboards, there is only one control key.
Marvin Kalngan

@marvin-vSTabj • Jul 31, 2013

but this is not a Mac keyboard
Abhishek Rawal

@abhishek-fg9tRh • Jul 31, 2013

marvin cute
but this is not a Mac keyboard
Then you might be using 'wannabe-mac' keyboard ?
Anil Jain

@CrazyBoy • Jul 31, 2013

Kaustubh Katdare
On Mac keyboards, there is only one control key.
I understand and you also mentioned that two CTRL, SHIFT keys help in typing fast and are user friendly. Does that mean Mac keyboards are not very user friendly?

Any other reason you can see (other than proving themselves as different then world) they uses one set?

-CB
Marvin Kalngan

@marvin-vSTabj • Jul 31, 2013

I am not using mac or wanna-be mac keyboard, what I am using is Across Technology keyboard.... Across Technology is written in front of my keyboard... I cannot read mac or wanna-be mac in my keyboard, I also checked the back of my key board , what was written there is Made in China.... there is no mac..
Kaustubh Katdare

@thebigk • Jul 31, 2013

#-Link-Snipped-# : That does not mean mac keyboards are less user friendly. They use different keys than the regular Windows keyboard.
Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Jul 31, 2013

Kaustubh Katdare
#-Link-Snipped-# : That does not mean mac keyboards are less user friendly. They use different keys than the regular Windows keyboard.
I think general users and programmer don't use both Ctrl and shift keys but typist and office worker do use. They can beat any mouse ninja just using keyboard.

May be Apple have find out that most of Mac users are not using right command keys so they removed it.
Shailaja Tiwari

@shailaja-tiwari-lKhGjd • Aug 1, 2013

Thank you everyone for clearing my doubt .
And #-Link-Snipped-#

why keys on keyboard are scrambled ?
Sorry but what do you mean by scrambling of keyboards ? I didn't get your question properly .
Did you mean qwerty keyboards ?
If yes , then they are designed in such a way to aid in typing fast , as the keys that are frequently used are placed aside each other such as
>e r >a s>i o u>r t
and they also help increasing keyboard life as some users having incredible typing speed may end up harming their keys .So it might be just to introduce a pause while typing .
Just my opinion .😀
Please do Correct me if I'm wrong .
Anoop Kumar

@anoop-kumar-GDGRCn • Aug 1, 2013

If yes , then they are designed in such a way to aid in typing fast ,
It's exactly opposite.
In earlier days of typewriter keys are arranged in alphabetic manner that's why people learned the patten quickly and they type so fast that it keys get jammed.
So they scrambled the key to slow down typing 😁 and it known fact that Humans are follower of sheep so it being continued.
Shailaja Tiwari

@shailaja-tiwari-lKhGjd • Aug 1, 2013

Thanks for enlightening .This means that I was partly right .
Refer my second view .

they also help increasing keyboard life as some users having incredible typing speed may end up harming their keys .So it might be just to introduce a pause while typing .
rahul69

@rahul69-97fAOs • Aug 1, 2013

shailaja revathi
I'm curious to know why do we have 2 ctrl,shift and alt keys on our keyboard ?
Does each side keys have different functions?
Know that it is a very basic question but help needed.
I think this facility is for lazy people like me 😉 , for example:
When my right hand is occupied holding my coffee cup ☕ , and I need to issue print command, I cannot press left ctrl key and p together with my left hand (seriously try it out 😲 ), and hence right ctrl key comes to the rescue 😁.
Nayan Goenka

@nayan-Dhpt4N • Aug 1, 2013

There is a difference in some keyboards regarding functionalities of ALT keys.

the right Alt key can print subfix letters on certain keys. Its marked as ALT GR and the subfix maybe the ₹ symbol on 4 key along with $ which can be types using Shift