Editing Command key (section)

{{Short description|Computer key}}
{{For|the same [[Keyboard technology#Types|keyboard key]] in [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]|Menu key}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}

{{Infobox symbol
|mark = ⌘
|unicode = {{unichar|2318|Place of interest sign|html=}}
}}

The '''Command key''' (sometimes abbreviated as '''Cmd key'''), '''{{char|⌘}}''', formerly also known as the '''Apple key''' or '''open Apple key''', is a [[modifier key]] present on [[Apple Keyboard|Apple keyboards]]. The Command key's purpose is to allow the user to enter [[keyboard shortcut|keyboard commands]] in applications and in the [[Operating system|system]]. An "extended" Macintosh keyboard—the most common type—has two command keys, one on each side of the [[space bar]]; some compact keyboards have one only on the left.

The {{char|⌘}} symbol (the "[[looped square]]") was chosen by [[Susan Kare]] after [[Steve Jobs]] decided that the use of the [[Marketing of Apple Inc.#Logo|Apple logo]] in the menu system (where the keyboard shortcuts are displayed) would be an over-use of the logo. Apple's adaptation of the symbol—encoded in [[Unicode]] at U+2318—was derived in part from its use in [[Nordic countries]] as an indicator of cultural locations and places of interest.<ref name="susan_kare_on_macintosh">{{cite web |publisher=Stanford University |title=Susan Kare on Working on the Macintosh |url=https://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/library/mac/primary/interviews/kare/mac.html |date=February 20, 2001 |access-date=May 27, 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150527143227/https://web.stanford.edu/dept/SUL/library/mac/primary/interviews/kare/mac.html | archive-date = 2015-05-27}}</ref> The symbol is known by various other names, including "Saint John's Arms" and "[[Bowen knot]]".