Esc key

Esc key

The Esc key is a key labeled "Esc" or "Escape" that is used to generate the ASCII Escape character (Control- [, ASCII code 27 in decimal), the character code traditionally used to initiate an escape sequence. As most computer users no longer are concerned with the details of controlling their computer's peripherals, the task for which the escape sequences were originally designed, the escape key was appropriated by application programmers, most often to mean "Stop". This use continues today in Microsoft Windows's use of escape as a shortcut in dialog boxes for "No", "Quit", "Exit", "Cancel", or "Abort".

The ESC Key is also known to stand for "extra services control" not escape (Essentials of 80x86 Assembly Language By Richard C. Detmer pg.14)

A common application today of the Esc key is as a shortcut key for the "Stop" button in many web browsers.

On machines running Microsoft Windows, prior to the implementation of the Windows key on keyboards, the typical practice for invoking the "start" button was to hold down the control key and press escape. This process still works in Windows XP and Windows Vista.

In Mac OS X, one common use for the Esc key, used in combination with the Command key, is switching to Front Row. Additionally, it's indicated as a circle with an arrow through it (U+238B, ⎋) as defined in ISO 9995.


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