Editing Command key (section)

== Function ==
The purpose of the Command key is to allow the user to enter [[keyboard shortcuts]] in applications and in the [[Operating system|system]]. The [http://interface.free.fr/Archives/Apple_HIGuidelines.pdf Macintosh Human Interface Guidelines] have always recommended that developers use the Command key (and not the Control or Option keys) for this purpose. A small set of keyboard commands (such as cut and paste, open and save) are standard across nearly all applications, and many other commands are standardized (Find, Show Fonts). If an application needs more shortcuts than can be obtained with the twenty-six letters of the [[Latin alphabet]], double modifiers such as Command+Option are used.

One advantage of this scheme, as contrasted with the [[Microsoft Windows]] mixed use of the Control and [[Alt key|Alt]] keys, is that the [[Control key]] is available for its original purpose: entering [[control character]]s in [[Terminal emulator|terminal]] applications. (Indeed, the very first Macintosh lacked a Control key; it was soon added to allow compatible terminal software.)

The Macintosh keyboard's other unusual modifier key, the [[Option key]], serves as a modifier both for entering keyboard shortcuts and for typing text—it is used to enter foreign characters, typographical symbols, and other special characters.