Option key
The Option key, also known as Alt key is a modifier key present on Apple Macintosh keyboards. It is located between the Control key and Command key on a standard Macintosh keyboard. For desktop keyboards, there are usually two, while a laptop may have only one to make room for the arrow keys. On the key it is usually written "alt" above "option". While it is also known as the Alt key, it does not function like the alt key for Microsoft Windows. Mainly, it is not used to access menus via the keyboard.
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Use of the Option key
Alternative keyboard input
The use of the Option key is similar to that of the Alt Gr key on European keyboards of IBM compatible PCs, in the sense that it can be used to type additional characters , symbols and diacritical marks. The options available differ depending on the keyboard input locale that the user has selected.
Alternative buttons and menu items
The key is also used to provide for alternative menu items and buttons when pressed down. Examples:
- Safari, Finder - the Alt key causes the "Close Window" menu item to switch to "Close All Windows" when pressed down.
- Dock - the Alt key causes the "Hide" and "Quit" menu items in the context menu of a Dock icon to switch to "Hide Others" and "Force Quit."
- iTunes - the Create Playlist button switches to a Create Smart Playlist button.
- iPhoto - the rotate image button toggles between a "rotate right" and a "rotate left."
Common Keyboard navigations
In text areas, the Option key can be used for quick keyboard navigation.
- Alt-Left/Right - navigate to the previous/next word.
- Windows equivalent: Ctrl-Left/Right
- Alt-Up/Down - navigate to the head/end of current line. Equivalent with Cmd-Left/Right.
- Terminal equivalent: Shift-home/end
- Windows equivalent: Ctrl-home/end
- Alt-Page up/Page down - navigate caret up/down a page. Without the Option key, Page up/Page down keys lets the page view scroll up/down a page without moving the caret.
- Windows equivalent: Page up/Page down
File downloads
In browsers such as Safari and Mozilla Firefox, the option key works like the shift key for Windows. Pressing down on the option key while clicking on a link causes the link destination to be downloaded. Also, entering the return key while pressing down on the option key in the address bar (a.k.a. location bar) causes the address destination to be downloaded. This is convenient for downloading a file that you don't want to load in a browser window. Alternatively one can access the link's context menu to download a link destination.
Miscellaneous
Some softwares make unique uses out of the alt key:
- Terminal (1.4.6) - Option-L/R arrows navigates between open Terminal windows in a loop. Usually, programs use Cmd-` and Cmd-Shift-`, which are also supported for Terminal.
- Scroll bars (OS X 10.3.x) - Option-clicking on a scroll bar arrow causes page up/down/left/right as opposed to a small incremental shift.
See also
Other modifier keys: