Num lock

Num Lock is a key on the numeric keypad of most computer keyboards. It is a toggle key, like Caps Lock and Scroll Lock. Its state is commonly represented by an LED light built into the keyboard.

A keyboard with Num lock turned ON

The Num Lock key exists because earlier 84-key IBM PC keyboards did not have arrows separate from the numeric keypad. Num Lock would be used to choose between the two functions. On some laptop computers, Num Lock keys are used to convert part of the main keyboard to act as a (slightly skewed) numeric keypad rather than letters. On some laptop computers, the Num lock key is excluded entirely and requires a key combination to activate.

Since most modern desktop computers have a full-size keyboard with both a numpad and separate arrow keys, Num Lock is rarely used for its original purpose, and ends up confusing the user if the computer has for some reason activated or deactivated the Num Lock key without the user being aware of it. This is less of an issue on most laptop computers, since activating the Num Lock function typically requires use of the Fn key; however, if a full-size keyboard is plugged into a laptop keyboard, then the Num Lock function is normally off, and the user would have to activate the Num Lock function to use the numeric keypad for numeric entry. Since Apple keyboards have always had dedicated arrow keys, Apple has keyboards that offer a separate numeric keypad may have no Num Lock key or a non-functional Num Lock key.

Keys affected by Num Lock

Key Name	Num Lock On	Num Lock Off
Numpad 1	1	End key
Numpad 2	2	Down Arrow Key
Numpad 3	3	Page Down
Numpad 4	4	Left Arrow Key
Numpad 5	5	Clear Key
Numpad 6	6	Right Arrow Key
Numpad 7	7	Home key
Numpad 8	8	Up Arrow Key
Numpad 9	9	Page Up
Numpad 0	0 (zero) (comma on some keyboard layouts)	Insert key
Numpad .	. (dot)	Delete key

IBM PC keyboard (Windows, US layout)v · d · e
Esc		F1	F2	F3	F4		F5	F6	F7	F8		F9	F10	F11	F12		PrtScn/ SysRq	ScrLk	Pause/ Break
																	Ins	Home	PgUp		Num Lock	/	*	-
																	Del	End	PgDn		7	8	9	+
																					4	5	6
																		↑			1	2	3	Ent
																	←	↓	→		0		.

This computer hardware article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.v · Categories: Computer hardware stubs Computer keys Wikimedia Foundation. 2010. Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая? National Film Archive of India Ashanti–Fante War Look at other dictionaries: num lock — (number lock) key on a computer keyboard which alternates the function of the numeric keypad between cursor manipulation and number input …   English contemporary dictionary Num Lock — UK [ˈnʌm ˌlɒk] US [ˈnʌm ˌlɑk] noun [uncountable] computing a computer key that you press to make the number keys below it enter numbers and not be used for moving up and down a document Thesaurus: keys on the computer keyboardhyponym …   Useful english dictionary Num Lock — Цифровая клавиатура. Клавиша Num Lock расположена под светящимся светодиодом с тем же названием Num Lock  (в буквальном переводе «фиксация цифр») клавиша переключения и фикс …   Википедия Num-Lock — Eine Num Taste Die Num Taste oder Num Lock Taste ist eine Taste auf einer (PC )Computertastatur. Sie befindet sich links oben am Ziffernblock. Sie wurde speziell für den IBM PC eingeführt und existiert daher nicht auf jeder Tastatur jedes… …   Deutsch Wikipedia Num lock — …   Википедия Num Lock — noun A key on a standard extended keyboard which, when pressed, toggles the keys of the numeric keypad between cursor control functions and numeric input functions …   Wiktionary Num Lock — UK [ˈnʌm ˌlɒk] / US [ˈnʌm ˌlɑk] noun [uncountable] computing a computer key that you press to make the number keys below it enter numbers and not be used for moving up and down a document …   English dictionary Num Lock key — key which enables typing numbers on the keypad …   English contemporary dictionary Lock key — Lock is a function that locks part of a keyboard keys depending on the lock settings selected. Most keyboards have three different types of lock functions:*Number Lock ndash; Num Lock *Capital Lock ndash; Caps Lock *Scrolling Lock ndash; Scroll… …   Wikipedia Num-Taste — Eine Num Taste Die Num Taste oder Num Lock Taste ist eine Taste auf einer Computertastatur. Sie befindet sich links oben am Ziffernblock. Sie wurde speziell für den IBM PC eingeführt und existiert daher nicht auf jeder Tastatur. Zweck Die Num… …   Deutsch Wikipedia 18+ © Academic, 2000-2024 Contact us: Technical Support, Advertising Dictionaries export, created on PHP, Joomla, Drupal, WordPress, MODx. Mark and share Search through all dictionaries Translate… Search Internet Share the article and excerpts Direct link … Do a right-click on the link above and select “Copy Link”