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How the command and option keys work on a Mac?

ByGB Blog Official 2018-07-03 8189

Mac keyboards have Option and Command keys where standard PC keyboards have Alt and Windows keys. The keyboards are otherwise pretty similar, but new Mac users will need to understand these different keys.

Apple's Mac keyboards actually do have a Control (Ctrl) key, but the Control key doesn't function like the Control key on Windows. Keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+C to copy text won't work.

The Command Key functions of Mac

The Command key doesn't do anything on its own. It's a modifier key you can press to issue keyboard shortcuts to applications.




This key has the symbol on it. This symbol appears throughout the Mac's menus to indicate when you can press the Command key along with another key to issue a keyboard shortcut. The Command key originally had an Apple logo on it, but Steve Jobs thought displaying the Apple logo throughout the original Macintosh's menu would be overusing the logo.


A designer chose the symbol to replace it. It’s an old symbol used in Nordic countries to indicate places of interest — in Sweden, it's the official sign for a tourist attraction.


In summary, on a Mac, you'll probably be pressing the Command key to issue keyboard shortcuts. The Control (Ctrl) key is also present, but it isn't used for many things.


Command Key functions of Mac

The Option Key functions of Mac

The Option key functions similarly to the AltGr key on many PC keyboards, which explains why it also has "Alt" printed on it. Holding it and pressing another key allows you to type a special character that doesn't normally appear on the keyboard.


For example, pressing Option+4 with the US keyboard layout will produce ¢, the cent sign which normally doesn't appear on your keyboard. Like other modifier keys, it's also used as part of some keyboard shortcuts.


This key has the symbol on it. This symbol is used throughout the Mac's menus to indicate when you can press the Option key, the same way the Command key's symbol is. Unlike for the Command key, we don't have any history that indicates why this symbol was chosen.


For example, when you click the Apple menu you'll see the keyboard shortcut assigned to Force Quit. if you're not used to a Mac's keyboard, these symbols may look like hieroglyphics — but they're really saying you should press Option+Command+Escape to open the dialog where you can force-quit applications. It's like the Task Manager on Windows.


Option Key functions of Mac


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