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Keyboard
The keyboard is one of the main ways to communicate with a
computer. There are many different types of keyboards, but most
are very similar and allow you to accomplish the same basic
tasks.

The device we use at present was modeled in the 1940s based on the technology of a
typewriter keyboard. In general, most of the keyboards contain 80 to 110 keys,
depending on the OS, the manufacturer, or the application it is made for. There are four
basic types of keys:

 Function keys
 Typing keys
 Numerical keys
 Control keys
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In the picture, the top row (F1-F12) consists of the function keys. They are assigned certain
commands by the operating system. For instance, in Windows, in the Microsoft Powerpoint
application, the F5 key is a shortcut to start a 'Slideshow', while in Microsoft Word, the F11 key
is used for formatting data.

The second row contains numerical or number keys. This keypad was introduced for quick data
entry, especially for programs, which contained a lot of numerical data, like mathematical
operations, etc.

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th rows are the typing keys. These are the keys, which are used for actual
text typing. All kinds of alphabetical data are entered into the text editor through these keys.
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Home and End

These move the cursor to the beginning or end of the current line. 

Page Up and Page Down

These scroll a document or webpage up or down.

Arrow Keys
The arrow keys are used for many different purposes, including moving the
cursor, scrolling a document, and controlling a game.

Numeric Keypad
The numeric keypad resembles a calculator keypad. Many users find that it
is easier to type numbers using this keypad. On some keyboards, these keys
double as arrow keys.

Escape Key
The Escape (Esc) key allows you to stop a function or action. For example, if
a webpage is taking a long time to load, you can press the Escape key to stop
loading it

Function Keys
The function keys are labeled F1 through F12. Some programs use these keys
as shortcuts for common tasks. For example, in many programs, F1 opens the
Help file.
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Print Screen, Scroll Lock, Pause/Break

The Print Screen, Scroll Lock, and Pause/Break keys are at the top-right
corner of the keyboard. The Print Screen key takes a picture of your screen
(called a screenshot) that you can edit or save using a graphics program.
Scroll Lock and Pause/Break are rarely used today, so some keyboards don't
have them.

Tab Key
The Tab key is used to create indents (a line of text) in word processing
programs. Also, if you are filling out a form online, you can use the Tab key
to switch to the next field.

Alphanumeric Keys
The main part of the keyboard includes the alphanumeric keys (letters
and numbers) and the spacebar.

Backspace Key
The Backspace key erases the character to the left of the cursor.

Enter key
The Enter key executes commands. For example, while on the Internet, you
can type a website address and then press Enter to go to the site. It is also
used to start a new line in word processing programs.

Ctrl, Alt, and Shift

The Control (Ctrl), Alternate(Alt), and Shift keys are designed to work in combination with
other keys. Typically, you hold down Ctrl, Alt, or Shift and then type another key to perform a specific
task. For example, in many programs, typing Ctrl+S will save a file.
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How keyboard works?

A keyboard is a lot like a miniature computer. It has its own processor and
circuitry that carries information to and from that processor. A large part of this
circuitry makes up the key matrix.

As you type, the processor (keyboard controller) in the keyboard analyzes the
key matrix and determines what characters to send to the computer. It maintains
these characters in its memory called buffer and then sends the data.

The key matrix is a grid of circuits underneath the keys. In all keyboards each
circuit is broken at a point below each key. When you press a key, it presses
a switch, completing the circuit and allowing a tiny amount of current to flow
through. The mechanical action of the switch causes some vibration,
called bounce, which the processor filters out. Sends signal to the computer’s
system software, notifying it that something has happened at the keyboard.
When the system software receives the signal, it determines the appropriate
response. When a key stroke has occurred, the system reads the memory
location in the keyboard buffer that contains the code of the key that was
pressed. The system software then passes that code to the CPU.
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If you press and hold a key, the processor recognizes it as the equivalent of
pressing a key repeatedly.

When the processor finds a circuit that is closed, it compares the location of that
circuit on the key matrix to the character map in its read-only memory (ROM). A
character map is basically a comparison chart or lookup table. It tells the
processor the position of each key in the matrix and what each keystroke or
combination of keystrokes represents. For example, the character map lets the
processor know that pressing the a key by itself corresponds to a small letter "a,"
but the Shift and a keys pressed together correspond to a capital "A."

The key matrix

Browser Shotcuts
Here are some shortcut keys for the widely used Windows based browsers like Internet
Explorer and Firefox. Also, most of these can be used as shortcut keys in Excel and
shortcut keys for Word.

KEY COMMAND
F5 refresh
CTRL U page source
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CTRL P print
CTRL S save page
CTRL + zoom in
CTRL - zoom out
CTRL 0 normal view
CTRL C copy
CTRL X cut
CTRL V paste
CTRL Z undo
CTRL F find
SHIFT F3 find previous
CTRL W close tab
CTRL SHIFT W close window
CTRL T new tab
CTRL SHIFT T opens closed tab
CTRL N new window
CTRL TAB next tab
CTRL SHIFT
previous tab
TAB
CTRL 9 last tab
CTRL D bookmark page
CTRL SHIFT D bookmark all tabs

 Windows key (or “Winkey") + D:  Minimize all app windows and jump straight to
the desktop. Hit the shortcut again to bring all apps back to the foreground.
 Winkey + Comma: Take a quick peek at your desktop, and then release the
keys to snap all apps back to the foreground.
 Winkey + Left Arrow, or Winkey + Right Arrow: snap your app windows to the
left or right of the screen.
 Winkey + Down Arrow, or Winkey + Up Arrow. Maximize or minimize a
selected app. Or dock your app windows to the top or bottom of your display, when app
windows are already docked to the left or right.
 F11 – Toggle an active window in and out of full screen mode.
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 Ctrl + Esc – Bring up your Start menu. (This is particularly helpful if you use a
keyboard that doesn't have a Winkey.)
 Window key+ L : lock the screen quickly
 Window key + PtrSc : takes screenshot
 Window key + w : shows setting
 Window key + f: for finding any thing
 Ctrl + w: to close the tab
 Cltr + t: for opening new ta
 Ctrl+shift+t: to reopen the closed tab
 Alt+F4: Close apps
 F5: Refresh

All the above computer keyboard shortcuts are useful to us on a daily basis, at some
point of time or the other. Memorizing all of them is near to impossible, so maybe you
can take out a printout or bookmark these articles for further reference.